Spacecraft By Year
Explorer name numbers can be found in the NSSDC master catalog, typically assigned to each spacecraft in a mission. However, one source says they were not officially assigned after 1975.
| # | Name(s) | Launch Date | Mission | End of Data | Re-Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explorer 1 | January 31, 1958 | Energetic particle studies, discovered the Van Allen radiation belt | May 23, 1958 | March 31, 1970 |
| 2 | Explorer 2 | March 5, 1958 | Failed to achieve orbit | – | – |
| 3 | Explorer 3 (Gamma 1) | March 26, 1958 | Energetic particle studies | June 27, 1958 | June 27, 1958 |
| 4 | Explorer 4 | July 26, 1958 | nuclear test studies | October 5, 1958 | October 23, 1959 |
| 5 | Explorer 5 | August 24, 1958 | Failed to achieve orbit | – | – |
| 7x | Explorer 7x (S 1) | July 16, 1959 | Measure earth's radiation balance, destroyed by range safety | – | – |
| 6 | Explorer 6 (S-2 (Able 3)) | August 7, 1959 | Magnetosphere research | October 6, 1959 | July 1, 1961 |
| 7 | Explorer 7 (S 1A) | October 13, 1959 | Energetic particle studies | August 24, 1961 | In orbit |
| – | S 46 | March 23, 1960 | Analyze electron and proton radiation energies, failed to achieve orbit | – | – |
| 8 | Explorer 8 (S 30) | November 3, 1960 | Measured atmospheric composition of the ionosphere | December 27, 1960 | March 27, 2012 |
| – | S 56 | December 4, 1960 | Atmospheric density measurements, failed to achieve orbit | – | – |
| 9 | Explorer 9 (S 56A) | February 16, 1961 | Atmospheric density measurements | April 9, 1964 | April 9, 1964 |
| – | S 45 | February 24, 1961 | Ionosphere research, failed to achieve orbit | – | – |
| 10 | Explorer 10 (P 14) | March 25, 1961 | Investigated field magnetic field between the Earth and Moon | March 25, 1961 | June 1, 1968 |
| 11 | Explorer 11 (S 15) | April 27, 1961 | Gamma ray astronomy | November 17, 1961 | In orbit |
| – | S 45A | May 25, 1961 | Ionosphere research, failed to achieve orbit | – | – |
| – | S 55 (Meteoroid Satellite-A, Micrometeorite Explorer) | June 30, 1961 | Micrometeoroid research, failed to achieve orbit | – | – |
| 12 | EPE-A (S 3, Energetic Particle Explorer-A) | August 16, 1961 | Energetic particle research | December 6, 1961 | September 1, 1963 |
| 13 | S 55A | August 25, 1961 | Micrometeoroid research | August 28, 1961 | August 28, 1961 |
| 14 | EPE-B (Energetic Particle Explorer-B) | October 2, 1962 | Energetic particle research | August 11, 1963 | July 1, 1966 |
| 15 | EPE-C (Energetic Particle Explorer-C) | October 27, 1962 | Energetic particle research | January 30, 1963 | January 15, 1978 |
| 16 | S 55B | December 16, 1962 | Micrometeoroid research | July 22, 1963 | In orbit |
| 17 | AE-A (Atmosphere Explorer-A) | April 3, 1963 | Atmospheric research | July 10, 1963 | November 24, 1966 |
| 18 | IMP-A (IMP 1, Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-A) | November 27, 1963 | Magnetospheric research | May 10, 1965 | December 30, 1965 |
| 19 | AD-A (Atmospheric Density-A) | December 19, 1963 | Atmospheric density measurements | May 10, 1981 | May 10, 1981 |
| 20 | IE-A (S 48, TOPSI, Ionosphere Explorer-A) | August 25, 1964 | Ionosphere research | December 29, 1965 | In orbit |
| 21 | IMP-B (IMP 2, Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-B) | October 4, 1964 | Magnetospheric research | October 13, 1965 | January 30, 1966 |
| 22 | BE-B (S 66, Beacon Explorer-B) | October 10, 1964 | Ionospheric and geodetic research | February 1970 | In orbit |
| 23 | S 55C (Explorer 23) | November 6, 1964 | Micrometeoric research | November 7, 1965 | June 29, 1983 |
| 24 | AD-B (Atmospheric Density-B) | November 21, 1964 | Atmospheric density measurements | October 18, 1968 | October 18, 1968 |
| 25 | Injun 4 (IE-B, Ionosphere Explorer-B) | November 21, 1964 | Ionospheric research | December 1966 | In orbit |
| 26 | EPE-D (Energetic Particle Explorer-D) | December 21, 1964 | High energy particle observations | December 27, 1967 | In orbit |
| 27 | BE-C (Beacon Explorer-C) | April 29, 1965 | Magnetospheric research | July 20, 1973 | In orbit |
| 28 | IMP-C (IMP 3, Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-C) | May 29, 1965 | Magnetospheric research | May 12, 1967 | July 4, 1968 |
| 29 | GEOS 1 (GEOS-A) | November 6, 1965 | Geodetic earth monitoring | June 23, 1978 | In orbit |
| 30 | SOLRAD 8 (SE-A) | November 19, 1965 | Solar radiation monitoring (Cover for covert ELINT mission) |
November 5, 1967 | In orbit |
| 31 | DME A | November 29, 1965 | Ionospheric research | October 1, 1969 | In orbit |
| 32 | AE-B (Atmosphere Explorer-B) | May 25, 1966 | Atmospheric research | March 1967 | February 22, 1985 |
| 33 | IMP-D (AIMP 1, Anchored IMP 1, Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-D) | July 1, 1966 | Magnetospheric research | September 21, 1971 | In orbit |
| 34 | IMP-F (IMP 4, Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-F) | May 24, 1967 | Magnetospheric research | May 3, 1969 | May 3, 1969 |
| 35 | IMP-E (AIMP-E, AIMP 2, Anchored IMP 2, Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-E) | July 19, 1967 | Magnetospheric research | June 24, 1973 | In Lunar orbit |
| 36 | GEOS 2 (GEOS-B) | January 11, 1968 | Geodetic earth monitoring | July 1, 1982 | In orbit |
| 37 | Solrad 9 (SE B) | March 5, 1968 | Solar radiation monitoring (Cover for covert ELINT mission) |
April 30, 1974 | November 16, 1990 |
| 38 | RAE-A (RAE 1, Radio Astronomy Explorer-A) | July 4, 1968 | Radio astronomy | ? | In orbit |
| 39 | AD-C (Atmospheric Density-C) | August 8, 1968 | Atmospheric density measurements | June 23, 1971 | June 22, 1981 |
| 40 | Injun 5 (Injun C, IE-C, Ionosphere Explorer-C) | August 8, 1968 | Magnetospheric Research | June 1971 | In orbit |
| 41 | IMP-G (IMP 5, Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-G) | June 21, 1969 | Magnetospheric research | December 23, 1972 | December 23, 1972 |
| 42 | SAS-A (Small Astronomy Satellite-A, SAS 1) | December 12, 1970 | X-Ray Astronomy | January 4, 1975 | April 5, 1979 |
| 43 | IMP-H (IMP 6, Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-H) | March 13, 1971 | Magnetospheric research | October 2, 1974 | October 2, 1974 |
| 44 | Solrad 10 (SE-C, SOLRAD-C) | July 8, 1971 | Solar radiation monitoring (Cover for covert ELINT mission) |
June 30, 1973 | December 15, 1979 |
| 45 | SSS-A (S-Cubed A) | November 15, 1971 | Magnetospheric research | September 30, 1974 | January 10, 1992 |
| 46 | Meteoroid Technology Satellite (MTS, METEC) | August 13, 1972 | Micrometeoroids research | November 4, 1974 | November 2, 1979 |
| 47 | IMP-I (IMP 7, Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-I) | September 23, 1972 | Magnetospheric research | October 31, 1978 | In orbit |
| 48 | SAS-B (Small Astronomy Satellite-B, SAS 2) | November 15, 1972 | X-Ray Astronomy | June 8, 1973 | August 20, 1980 |
| 49 | RAE-B (RAE 2, Radio Astronomy Explorer-B) | June 10, 1973 | Radio astronomy | April 26, 1977 | In Lunar orbit |
| 50 | IMP J (IMP 8, Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-J) | October 26, 1973 | Magnetospheric research | October 7, 2006 | In orbit |
| 51 | AE-C (Atmosphere Explorer-C) | December 16, 1973 | Atmospheric research | ? | December 12, 1978 |
| 52 | Hawkeye 1, Injun 6 (IE-D, Ionosphere Explorer-D) | June 3, 1974 | Magnetospheric research | April 28, 1978 | April 28, 1978 |
| 53 | SAS-C (Small Astronomy Satellite-C, SAS 3) | May 7, 1975 | X-Ray Astronomy | April 7, 1979 | April 9, 1979 |
| 54 | AE-D (Atmosphere Explorer-D) | October 6, 1975 | Atmospheric research | January 29, 1976 | March 12, 1976 |
| 55 | AE-E (Atmosphere Explorer-E) | November 20, 1975 | Atmospheric research | September 25, 1980 | June 10, 1981 |
| 56 | ISEE 1 & 2 (International Sun-Earth Explorer-A & B) | October 22, 1977 | Magnetospheric research | September 26, 1987 | September 26, 1987 |
| 57 | IUE | January 26, 1978 | Ultraviolet astronomy | September 30, 1996 | In orbit |
| 58 | HCMM (AEM-A, Applications Explorer Mission-A, Heat Capacity Mapping Mission) | April 26, 1978 | Thermal mapping of the earth | September 30, 1980 | December 22, 1981 |
| 59 | ISEE 3 (International Sun-Earth Explorer-C, ICE) | August 12, 1978 | Magnetospheric research | Hibernation | In heliocentric orbit |
| 60 | SAGE (AEM-B, Applications Explorer Mission-B, Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment) | February 18, 1979 | Stratospheric aerosol and ozone data | January 7, 1982 | April 11, 1989 |
| 61 | MAGSAT (AEM-C, Applications Explorer Mission-C, Magnetic Field Satellite) | October 30, 1979 | Mapped the near surface magnetic field of the Earth | May 6, 1980 | June 11, 1980 |
| 62 | DE 1 (DE-A, Dynamics Explorer-A) | August 3, 1981 | Magnetospheric research | February 28, 1991 | In orbit |
| 63 | DE 2 (DE-B, Dynamics Explorer-B) | August 3, 1981 | Magnetospheric research | 1983 | February 19, 1983 |
| 64 | SME (Solar Mesosphere Explorer) | October 6, 1981 | Atmospheric research | April 4, 1989 | March 5, 1991 |
| 65 | AMTPE/CCE (Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers/Charge Composition Explorer) | August 16, 1984 | Magnetospheric research | July 12, 1989 | In orbit |
| 66 | COBE | November 18, 1989 | Microwave astronomy | December 23, 1993 | In orbit |
| 67 | EUVE | June 7, 1992 | Ultraviolet astronomy | January 30, 2002 | January 30, 2002 |
| 68 | SAMPEX | July 3, 1992 | Magnetospheric research | June 30, 2004 | In orbit |
| 69 | RXTE | December 30, 1995 | X-ray astronomy | January 3, 2012 Operated for 16 years |
In orbit |
| 70 | FAST | August 21, 1996 | Auroral phenomena | operational? | In orbit |
| 71 | ACE | August 25, 1997 | Solar/interplanetary/interstellar particle research | Operational | In L1 orbit |
| 72 | SNOE | February 26, 1998 | Atmospheric research | December 13, 2003 | December 13, 2003 |
| 73 | TRACE | April 2, 1998 | Solar observatory | June 21, 2010 (Hibernation) | In orbit |
| 74 | SWAS | December 6, 1998 | Submillimeter astronomy | July 2004 hibernation August 2005 after Deep Impact sub-mission |
In orbit |
| 75 | WIRE | March 5, 1999 | Infrared astronomy, primary mission failed due to loss of coolant | No Survey, limited secondary mission | May 10, 2011 |
| 76 | TERRIERS | May 18, 1999 | Atmospheric research, satellite failed shortly after achieving orbit | May 18, 1999 | In orbit |
| 77 | FUSE | June 23, 1999 | Ultraviolet astronomy | October 18, 2007 | In orbit |
| 78 | IMAGE | March 25, 2000 | Magnetospheric research | December 18, 2005 | Contact lost |
| 79 | HETE-2 | October 9, 2000 | UV, X-Ray, and gamma ray astronomy | Past | In orbit |
| 80 | WMAP | June 30, 2001 | Microwave astronomy | October 2010 | In L2 orbit |
| 81 | RHESSI | February 5, 2002 | X-ray and gamma ray solar flare imaging | Operational | In orbit |
| 82 | CHIPSat | January 13, 2003 | Ultraviolet spectroscopy and astronomy | April 11, 2008 | In orbit |
| 83 | GALEX | April 28, 2003 | Ultraviolet astronomy | Operational | In orbit |
| 84 | SWIFT | November 20, 2004 | Gamma ray astronomy | Operational | In orbit |
| 85 | THEMIS A | February 17, 2007 | Magnetospheric research | Operational | In orbit |
| 86 | THEMIS B (ARTEMIS P1) | February 17, 2007 | Magnetospheric research | Operational | In orbit |
| 87 | THEMIS C (ARTEMIS P2) | February 17, 2007 | Magnetospheric research | Operational | In orbit |
| 88 | THEMIS D | February 17, 2007 | Magnetospheric research | Operational | In orbit |
| 89 | THEMIS E | February 17, 2007 | Magnetospheric research | Operational | In orbit |
| 90 | AIM | April 25, 2007 | Noctilucent cloud observation | Operational | In orbit |
| 91 | IBEX | October 19, 2008 | Mapping the boundary between the Solar System and interstellar space. | Operational | In orbit |
| 92 | WISE | December 14, 2009 | Infrared astronomy | February 17, 2011 Hibernation |
In orbit |
| 93 | NuSTAR | June 13, 2012 | High-energy x-ray astronomy | checkout and calibration phase | In orbit |
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