Goddard Projects Directory

The search for E produced 41 results out of 249 records Echo I Launch Date: 08/12/1960 The Echo I spacecraft was a passive communications reflector for transcontinental and intercontinental telephone (voice), radio, and television signals. The spacecraft was also used to evaluate the technical feasibility of satellite triangulation during the latter portion of its life. Other Name(s):  Echo 1, Echo 1A, A 11 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Echo II Launch Date: 01/25/1964 The Echo II spacecraft was a rigidized passive communications spacecraft for testing propagation, tracking, and communication techniques. In addition to fulfilling its communications mission, the spacecraft was used for global geometric geodesy. Other Name(s):  Echo 2, Echo-C |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   EO-1 Launch Date: 11/21/2000 The Earth Observer-1 (EO-1) satellite, part of the New Millennium program will test advanced imaging systems in coordination with Landsat 7. EO-1 is the first satellite in NASA's New Millennium Program Earth Observing series. The EO-1 mission will develop and validate instruments and technologies for space-based Earth observations with unique spatial, spectral and temporal characteristics not previously available. Other Name(s):  Earth Observer 1, Earth Observing mission 1 |  GSFC Link  |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |  Image Gallery  |  Educational Resource  |   ERBS Launch Date: 10/05/1984 The Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) was designed to be a two-year mission to gather required radiation budget data, aerosol data, and ozone data to assess climate change and ozone depletion. ERBS was designed to investigate how energy from the Sun is absorbed and re-emitted by the Earth. This process of absorption and re-radiation is one of the principal drivers of the Earth's weather patterns. Observations from ERBS are also used to determine the effects of human activities (such as burning fossil fuels and the use CFCs) and natural occurrences (such as volcanic eruptions) on the Earth's radiation balance. The two experiments conducted were the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) and the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II). Other Name(s):  Earth Radiation Budget Satellite, Earth Rad Budget Sat. |  Project Information  |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |  Additional URL 2  |  Educational Resource  |   ERTS-A Launch Date: 07/23/1972 The Earth Resources Technology Satellite-A (ERTS-A) near-polar orbiting satellite served as a stabilized, Earth-oriented platform for obtaining information on agricultural and forestry resources, geology and mineral resources, hydrology and water resources, geography, cartography, environmental pollution, oceanography and marine resources, and meteorological phenomena. Its primary objective was to demonstrate remote sensing technology of the Earth's surface on a global scale and on a repetitive basis. Other Name(s):  Earth Resources Technology Satellite 1, ERTS 1, Landsat 1 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   EUVE Launch Date: 06/07/1992 The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) spacecraft was a NASA-funded astronomy mission. The science goals of EUVE were to: carry out an all-sky, all-band survey in the extreme ultraviolet in four bandpasses; carry out a deep survey in the EUV in two bandpasses along the ecliptic; carry out pointed spectroscopy observations of targets identified by Guest Observers; identify the emission physics of EUV sources such as hot white dwarfs and late-type, coronal stars; study the interstellar medium; and probe whether compelling science could be done with increased sensitivity in the EUV. Other Name(s):  Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer, BERKSAT, Explorer 67 |  GSFC Link  |  Project Information  |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |  Additional URL 2  |  Image Gallery  |  Educational Resource  |   Explorer 27 Launch Date: 04/29/1965 The Explorer 27 was a small ionospheric research satellite designed to obtain worldwide observations of total electron content between the spacecraft and the Earth. The spacecraft was instrumented with an electrostatic probe, radio beacons, a passive laser tracking reflector, and a Doppler navigation experiment. Other Name(s):  BE-C, Beacon Explorer C, Beacon-C |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |  Additional URL 2  |   Explorer 28 Launch Date: 05/29/1965 The Explorer 28 spacecraft was the third Interplanetary Monitoring Platform that carried eight scientific instruments. The spacecraft was powered with a solar-cell and chemical-battery, and was instrumented for interplanetary and distant magnetospheric studies of energetic particles, cosmic rays, magnetic fields, and plasmas. Other Name(s):  Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-C, IMP-C, IMP 3, S 74B |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer 32 Launch Date: 05/25/1966 Explorer 32 was an aeronomy satellite that measured temperature, composition, density, and pressure in the upper atmosphere. The remaining experiments operated satisfactorily and provided useful data for most of the satellite lifetime. Other Name(s):  Aeronomy Explorer B, AE-B, Atmosphere Explorer-B, S 6A |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer 33 Launch Date: 07/01/1966 The Explorer 33 Interplanetary Monitoring Platform spacecraft was designed to study interplanetary plasma, energetic charged particles (electrons, protons, and alphas), magnetic fields, and solar X-rays at lunar distances. Other Name(s):  Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-D, IMP-D, Anchored IMP 1, Anchored Interplanetary Monitoring Platform 1, AIMP 1 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer 34 Launch Date: 05/24/1967 The Explorer 34 spacecraft was the fourth Interplanetary Monitoring Platform placed into a high-inclination, highly eccentric Earth orbit. Its main objective was to study the Sun and Earth relationship. Like the earlier IMPs, this mission was instrumented to study interplanetary magnetic fields, energetic particles, and plasma. Other Name(s):  Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-F, IMP-F, IMP 4 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer 35 Launch Date: 07/19/1967 The Explorer 35 Interplanetary Monitoring Platform spacecraft primary objective was to study solar wind and interplanetary fields at lunar distance. It was launched into an elliptical lunar orbit. The mission objectives were achieved. Results indicated no shock front precedes the moon, no magnetic field, no radiation belts, nor any evidence of lunar ionosphere. Other Name(s):  Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-E, IMP-E, Anchored Interplanetary Monitoring Platform 2, AIMP 2, AIMP-E |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer 38 Launch Date: 07/04/1968 The Explorer 38 spacecraft’s primary objective was to monitor low-frequency radio signals originating in our solar system. The spacecraft measured the intensity of celestial radio sources, particularly the sun, as a function of time, direction, and frequency. The onboard experiments consisted of four step-frequency Ryle-Vonberg radiometers, two multichannel total power radiometers, one step frequency V-antenna impedance probe, and one dipole antenna capacitance probe. Other Name(s):  Radio Astronomy Explorer-A, RAE-A, RAE 1 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer 41 Launch Date: 06/21/1969 The Explorer 41, the fifth Interplanetary Platform spacecraft, continued the study of the environment within and beyond Earth magnetosphere. The spacecraft was placed into a high-inclination, highly elliptic orbit to measure energetic particles, magnetic fields, and plasma in cislunar space. Other Name(s):  Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-G, IMP-G, IMP 5 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer 42 Launch Date: 12/12/1970 The Explorer 42 satellite was the first Earth-orbiting mission dedicated entirely to celestial X-ray astronomy and the first of a series of Small Astronomy Satellites. Its primary objective was to develop a catalog of celestial X-ray sources by systematic scanning of the celestial sphere. The satellite was launched from the San Marco platform off the coast of Kenya, Africa, into a near-circular equatorial orbit. Other Name(s):  Uhuru, Small Astronomy Satellite 1, SAS 1, SAS-A |  GSFC Link  |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |  Image Gallery  |   Explorer 43 Launch Date: 03/13/1971 The Explorer 43 was the sixth Interplanetary Platform spacecraft to extend knowledge of solar and lunar relationship by measuring energetic particles, plasmas, and electric and magnetic fields. A radio astronomy experiment was also included in the spacecraft payload. Other Name(s):  Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-I, IMP-I, IMP 6 |  GSFC Link  |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |  Image Gallery  |   Explorer 45 Launch Date: 11/15/1971 The Explorer 45 satellite performed a wide variety of investigations within the magnetosphere with regards to particle fluxes, electric fields, and magnetic fields. The spacecraft primary objective was to study magnetic storms and acceleration of charged particles within the inner magnetosphere. In order to determine the major wave-particle interaction mechanisms, directional measurements of protons, electrons, and alpha particles were made over a wide energy range, and DC/AC electric and magnetic fields were measured. Other Name(s):  S-Cubed A, Small Scientific Satellite-A, SSS-A |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer 47 Launch Date: 09/23/1972 The Explorer 47 was the seventh Interplanetary Monitoring Platform which had an automated space physics lab to study interplanetary radiation, solar wind, and energetic particles. Other Name(s):  Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-H, IMP-H, IMP 7 |  GSFC Link  |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |  Image Gallery  |   Explorer 48 Launch Date: 11/15/1972 The Explorer 48 was the second in the series of the Small Astronomy Satellite that extended astronomical studies in the X-ray, gamma-ray, ultraviolet, visible, and infrared regions. Its purpose was to measure the spatial and energy distribution of primary galactic and extragalactic gamma radiation. The satellite was launched from the San Marco platform off the coast of Kenya, Africa, into a nearly equatorial orbit. Other Name(s):  Small Astronomy Satellite-B, SAS-B, SAS 2 |  GSFC Link  |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |  Image Gallery  |   Explorer 49 Launch Date: 06/10/1973 The Explorer 49 mission was the second of a pair of RAE satellites. Its primary objective was to measure low frequency radio noise from galactic and extragalactic sources and from the Sun, Earth, and Jupiter. It was placed into lunar orbit to provide radio astronomical measurements of the planets, the sun, and the galaxy. The experiment complement consisted of two Ryle-Vonberg radiometers, three swept-frequency burst receivers, and an impedance probe for calibration. Other Name(s):  Radio Astronomy Explorer-B, RAE-B, RAE-2 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer 50 Launch Date: 10/26/1973 The Explorer 50 was the last Interplanetary Monitoring Platform spacecraft to investigate the Earth's radiation environment. The spacecraft has a broad array of field, particle, and plasma instruments that provide the only near-Earth, solar wind, and cosmic ray monitor to support heliospheric, solar variability, cosmic ray, and magnetospheric studies. It provides baseline solar wind data for the International Solar Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Program. Other Name(s):  Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-J, IMP-J, IMP 8 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |  Additional URL 2  |  Image Gallery  |   Explorer 51 Launch Date: 12/16/1973 The Explorer 51 spacecraft primary objective was to study the energy transfer, atomic and molecular processes, and chemical reactions in atmosphere. The study of photochemical processes accompanying the absorption of solar UV radiation in the Earth's atmosphere was accomplished by making closely coordinated measurements of reacting constituents and the solar input. The payload included instrumentation for the measurement of solar UV, the composition of positive ions and neutral particles, the density and temperature of neutral particles (positive ions and electrons), the measurement of airglow emissions, photoelectron energy spectra, and proton and electron fluxes up to 25 keV. Other Name(s):  Atmosphere Explorer-C, AE-C |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer 53 Launch Date: 05/07/1975 The Explorer 53 was the third in the series of Small Astronomy Satellite. Its primary objective was to measure the X-ray emission of discrete extragalactic sources, to monitor the intensity and spectra of galactic X-ray sources, and to monitor the X-ray intensity of Scorpio X-1. The satellite was launched from the Italian San Marco launch facility off the coast of Kenya, Africa, into a near-circular, equatorial orbit. This spacecraft contained four instruments: the Extragalactic experiment, the Galactic Monitor experiment, the Scorpio Monitor experiment, and the Galactic Absorption experiment. The spacecraft scientific payload was designed and built at MIT. Other Name(s):  Small Astronomy Satellite 3, SAS 3, SAS-C |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |  Additional URL 2  |   Explorer 54 Launch Date: 10/06/1975 The Explorer 54 spacecraft primary objective was to continue investigation for chemical processes and energy transfer mechanisms, already begun by Explorer 51, which controlled the Earth’s atmosphere. This mission was planned to sample the high latitude regions at the same time that the Explorer 55 mission was sampling the equatorial and low latitude regions. Other Name(s):  Atmosphere Explorer-D, AE-D |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer 55 Launch Date: 11/20/1975 The Explorer 55 spacecraft primary objective was to investigate the chemical processes and energy transfer mechanisms, which controlled the Earth’s atmosphere. The simultaneous sampling at higher latitudes was carried out by the Explorer 54 and then by Explorer 51. The same type of spacecraft as Explorer 51 was used, and the payload consisted of the same types of instruments except that the low-energy electron and UV nitric oxide experiments were deleted and a backscatter UV spectrometer was added to monitor the ozone content of the atmosphere. Other Name(s):  Atmosphere Explorer-E, AE-E, AE 5 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer IX Launch Date: 02/16/1961 The Explorer IX spacecraft studied the performance and other characteristics of the Scout rocket launched from Wallops Island, VA. The injected inflatable sphere in the Earth orbit was to study the density of the atmosphere. Explorer IX was the first spacecraft placed in orbit by an all-solid rocket and the first spacecraft successfully launched from Wallops Island. It was the first in a series of inflatable spheres to be successfully placed into orbit solely for the determination of atmospheric densities. Other Name(s):  Explorer 9, S 56A |  NSSDC Link  |   Explorer VI Launch Date: 08/07/1959 The Explorer VI satellite primary objective was to study trapped radiation of various energies, galactic cosmic rays, geomagnetism, radio propagation in the upper atmosphere, and the flux of micrometeorites. Also, it tested a scanning device designed for photographing the earth's cloud cover. Other Name(s):  Explorer 6, Able 3, S 2 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer VII Launch Date: 10/13/1959 The Explorer VII satellite primary purpose was to measure micrometeorite impacts, Earth radiation, ultraviolet, x-rays, and primary cosmic rays. Secondary objectives included collecting data on micrometeoroid penetration and molecular sputtering and studying the earth-atmosphere heat balance. Other Name(s):  Explorer 7, S 1A |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer VIII Launch Date: 11/03/1960 The Explorer VIII satellite primary objective was to obtain measurements of the electron density, the electron temperature, the ion concentration, the ion mass, the micrometeorite distribution, and the micrometeorite mass in the ionosphere. It also was designed to study the temporal and spatial distribution of these properties and their variation from full sunlit conditions to full shadow, or night-time, conditions. Considerable new knowledge about the ionosphere was gained from operation of the satellite. Other Name(s):  Explorer 8, S 30 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer X Launch Date: 03/25/1961 The Explorer X satellite primary objective was to study and investigate the terrestrial and interplanetary magnetic fields and plasma as the satellite passed through the Earth's magnetosphere and into cislunar space. Other Name(s):  Explorer 10, P 14 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer XI Launch Date: 04/27/1961 The Explorer XI satellite was the first gamma ray detection satellite launched that carried a telescope. In addition to detecting the sources of high-energy gamma rays, the satellite was designed to: (1) map their direction with emphasis on the plane of the galaxy, the galactic center, the Sun, and other known radio noise sources, (2) relate the measurements to the cosmic-ray flux density and the density of interstellar matter, and (3) measure the high-energy gamma-ray albedo of the Earth's atmosphere. Other Name(s):  Explorer 11, S 15 |  GSFC Link  |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |  Image Gallery  |   Explorer XII Launch Date: 08/16/1961 The Explorer XII spacecraft was the first of the S 3 series of spacecraft, which includes the Explorers 14, 15 and 16. Its primary objective was to investigate and measure the cosmic-ray particles, trapped particles, energetic particles, solar wind protons, and interplanetary and magnetospheric magnetic fields. Other Name(s):  Explorer 12, Energetic Particles Explorer-A, EPE-A, S 3 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer XIII Launch Date: 08/25/1961 The Explorer XIII spacecraft was launched from Wallops Island, VA using a Scout launch vehicle. Its primary objectives were to investigate the nature and effects of micrometeoroids on the spacecraft systems and test the vehicle performance and guidance. Other Name(s):  Explorer 13, S 55A |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer XIV Launch Date: 10/02/1962 The Explorer XIV spacecraft was NASA’s second Energetic Particles Explorer and second of the S 3 series of spacecraft, which includes the Explorers 12, 15 and 26. Its primary objective was to study the Earth’s radiation environment. Also, it measured cosmic-ray particles, trapped particles, solar wind protons, and magnetospheric and interplanetary magnetic fields. Other Name(s):  Explorer 14, Energetic Particles Explorer-B, EPE-B, S 3a |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer XV Launch Date: 10/27/1962 The Explorer XV spacecraft was another in the series of Energetic Particles Explorers. Its primary objective was to study the artificial radiation belt created by the Starfish high altitude nuclear explosion. Other Name(s):  Explorer 15, Energetic Particles Explorer-C, EPE-C, S 3B |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer XVII Launch Date: 04/03/1963 The Explorer XVII spacecraft investigated the density, composition, pressure, temperature of the Earth's atmosphere. It carried four pressure gauges for the measurement of total neutral particle density, two mass spectrometers for the measurement of certain neutral particle concentrations, and two electrostatic probes for ion concentration and electron temperature measurements. Other Name(s):  Explorer 17, Atmosphere Explorer-A, AE-A, S 6 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer XVIII Launch Date: 11/27/1963 The Explorer XVIII was the first Interplanetary Monitoring Platform spacecraft that studied the radiation environment from near Earth to more than 170,000 miles. It was a solar-cell and chemical-battery powered spacecraft designed for interplanetary and distant magnetospheric studies of energetic particles, cosmic rays, magnetic fields, and plasmas. Other Name(s):  Explorer 18, Interplanetary Monitoring Planetary-A, IMP-A, IMP 1, S 74 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer XX Launch Date: 08/25/1964 The Explorer XX ionospheric satellite primary objective was to estimate cosmic noise levels and measure the electron distribution, ion density and temperature in near-Earth space and deep space. Other Name(s):  Explorer 20, IE-A, S 48, TOSPI |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer XXI Launch Date: 10/04/1964 The Explorer XXI was the second Interplanetary Monitoring Platform spacecraft that continued the studies of radiation environment of space between the Earth and the Moon. Other Name(s):  Explorer 21, Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-B, IMP-B, IMP 2, S 74A |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer XXII Launch Date: 10/10/1964 The Explorer XXII ionospheric research satellite was launched in the Scout rocket from Wallops Island, VA. Its primary objective was to study and obtain worldwide observations of the total electron environment in the near-Earth space. Other Name(s):  Explorer 22, Beacon Explorer-B, BE-B, S 66A |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   Explorer XXVI Launch Date: 12/21/1964 The Explorer XXVI was a solar-cell powered spacecraft in the Energetic Particles Explorers series. Its primary objective was to investigate the trapped radiation belt and measure trapped particles and the geomagnetic field. Other Name(s):  Explorer 26, Energetic Particles Explorer-D, EPE-D |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |