S-45A

S-45A was an American satellite, which was lost in a launch failure in 1961. The satellite was intended to operate in a highly elliptical orbit, from which it was to have provided data on the shape of the ionosphere,^[1] and on the Earth's magnetic field.^[2] It was part of the Explorer programme, and would have been designated Explorer 12 had it reached orbit. It was the second of two identical satellites to be launched; the first, S-45, had also been lost in a launch failure, earlier in the year.^[2]

S-45A was launched aboard a Juno II rocket, serial number AM-19G. It was the final flight of the Juno II.^[3] The launch took place from Launch Complex 26B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 19:48:05 UTC on 24 May 1961.^[3] The system which was intended to ignite the second stage malfunctioned, and as a result that stage failed to ignite.^[4] The rocket failed to achieve orbit.^[5]

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