S-45 (satellite)

S-45

S-45 before launch
Mission type	Ionospheric
Operator	NASA
Mission duration	Failed to orbit
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass	33.6 kilograms (74 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	25 February 1961, 00:13:16 (1961-02-25UTC00:13:16Z) UTC
Rocket	Juno II AM-19F
Launch site	Cape Canaveral LC-26B
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Highly elliptical
Epoch	Planned

S-45 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 10 had it reached orbit. A second identical satellite, S-45A, also failed to achieve orbit when it was launched.^[2]

S-45 was launched aboard a Juno II rocket, serial number AM-19F. The launch took place from Launch Complex 26B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 00:13:16 UTC on 25 February 1961.^[3] The rocket malfunctioned after the second stage separated, and contact with the payload was lost.^[4] The third and fourth stages subsequently failed to ignite, resulting in the satellite failing to achieve orbit.^[5]

References