Explorer 15
Explorer 15 satellite | |
| Names | EPE-C Energetic Particles Explorer-C NASA S-3B |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Space physics |
| Operator | NASA |
| Harvard designation | 1962 βλ1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1962-059A |
| SATCAT no. | 00445 |
| Mission duration | 12 months (planned) 3 months (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Explorer XV |
| Spacecraft type | Energetic Particles Explorer |
| Bus | S-3 |
| Manufacturer | Goddard Space Flight Center |
| Launch mass | 44.4 kg (98 lb) |
| Power | 4 deployable solar arrays and batteries |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 27 October 1962, 23:15:01 GMT |
| Rocket | Thor-Delta A (Thor 346 / Delta 014) |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral, LC-17B |
| Contractor | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| Entered service | 27 October 1962 |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 30 January 1963 |
| Decay date | 19 December 1978 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Highly elliptical orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 300 km (190 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 17,438 km (10,835 mi) |
| Inclination | 18.0° |
| Period | 311.40 minutes |
| Instruments | |
| Angular Distribution Directional and Omnidirectional Energetic Protons and Electrons Electron and Proton Solid-State Detectors Fluxgate Magnetometers Proton-Electron Scintillation Detector | |
Explorer program | |
Explorer 15, also called EPE-C or Energetic Particles Explorer-C, was a NASA satellite launched as part of the Explorer program. Explorer 15 was launched on 27 October 1962, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, United States, with a Thor-Delta A .