Explorer 51
Explorer 51 satellite | |
| Names | AE-C Atmosphere Explorer-C |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Earth science |
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 1973-101A |
| SATCAT no. | 06977 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Explorer LI |
| Spacecraft type | Atmosphere Explorer |
| Bus | AE |
| Manufacturer | Goddard Space Flight Center |
| Launch mass | 658 kg (1,451 lb) |
| Dimensions | 140 cm (55 in) diameter |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 16 December 1973, 06:18:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Thor-Delta 1900 (Thor 585 / Delta 099) |
| Launch site | Vandenberg, SLC-2W |
| Contractor | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| Entered service | 16 December 1973 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 12 December 1978 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Medium Earth orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 149 km (93 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 4,294 km (2,668 mi) |
| Inclination | 68.10° |
| Period | 132.30 minutes |
| Instruments | |
| Miniature Electrostatic Accelerometer (MESA) Bennett Ion-Mass Spectrometer (BIMS) Capacitance Manometer Closed-Source Neutral Mass Spectrometer Cold Cathode Ion Gauge Cylindrical Electrostatic Probes (CEP) Extreme Solar Ultraviolet Monitor (ESUM) Low-Energy Electrons (LEE) Magnetic Ion-Mass Spectrometer (MIMS) Neutral Atmosphere Temperature (NATE) Open-Source Neutral Mass Spectrometer Photoelectron Spectrometer (PES) Retarding Potential Analyser/Drift Meter (RPA) Temperature Alarm Ultraviolet Nitric-Oxide (UVNO) Visible Airglow Photometer (VAE) | |
| Atmosphere Explorer | |
Explorer 51, also known as AE-C (Atmospheric Explorer-C), was a NASA scientific satellite belonging to the Atmosphere Explorer series launched on 16 December 1973, at 06:18:00 UTC, from Vandenberg aboard a Delta 1900 launch vehicle.