Explorer 34
Explorer 34 satellite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Names | IMP-F IMP-4 Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission type | Space physics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | NASA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COSPAR ID | 1967-051A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATCAT no. | 02817 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mission duration | 2 years (achieved) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spacecraft properties | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spacecraft | Explorer XXXIV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spacecraft type | Interplanetary Monitoring Platform | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bus | IMP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Goddard Space Flight Center | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch mass | 163 kg (359 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dimensions | 71 × 20.3 cm (28.0 × 8.0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Power | 4 deployable solar arrays and batteries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start of mission | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch date | 24 May 1967, 14:05:54 GMT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocket | Delta E1 (Thor 486 / Delta 049) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch site | Vandenberg, SLC-2E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entered service | 24 May 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| End of mission | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last contact | 3 May 1969 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Decay date | 3 May 1969 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital parameters | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regime | Highly elliptical orbit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Perigee altitude | 2,031 km (1,262 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apogee altitude | 209,242 km (130,017 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inclination | 68.50° | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period | 6218.30 minutes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Instruments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Explorer 34 (IMP-F, IMP-4), was a NASA satellite launched as part of Explorer program. Explorer 34 as launched on 24 May 1967 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, with Thor-Delta E1 launch vehicle. Explorer 34 was the fifth satellite launched as part of the Interplanetary Monitoring Platform program, but was known as "IMP-4" because the preceding launch was more specifically part of the "Anchored IMP" sub-program. The spacecraft was put into space between the launches of Explorer 33 (IMP-D / AIMP-1) in 1966 and Explorer 35 (IMP-E / AIMP-2) in July 1967, but the next satellite to use Explorer 34's general design was Explorer 41 (IMP-G / IMP-5), which flew in 1969.