 Explorer 33 satellite | |
| Names | IMP-D AIMP-1 Anchored Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-1 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Magnetospheric research |
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 1966-058A |
| SATCAT no. | 02258 |
| Mission duration | 5 years, 2 months and 19 days (achieved) 58 years, 4 months and 22 days (in orbit) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Explorer XXXIII |
| Spacecraft type | Anchored Interplanetary Monitoring Platform |
| Bus | AIMP |
| Manufacturer | Goddard Space Flight Center |
| Launch mass | 93.4 kg (206 lb) |
| Dimensions | 71 × 20.3 cm (28.0 × 8.0 in) |
| Power | 43 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 1 July 1966, 16:02:25 GMT |
| Rocket | Delta E1 (Thor 467 / Delta 039) |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral, LC-17A |
| Contractor | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| Entered service | 1 July 1966 |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 21 September 1971 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[1] |
| Regime | High Earth orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 265,680 km (165,090 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 480,763 km (298,732 mi) |
| Inclination | 24.40° |
| Period | 26d 22hr 32min |
| Instruments | |
| Ames Magnetic Fields Electron and Proton Detectors GSFC Magnetometer Ion Chamber and Geiger–Müller Counters Low-Energy Integral Spectrum Measurement Experiment Plasma Probe Solar Cell Damage | |
Explorer 33, also known as IMP-D and AIMP-1, is a spacecraft in the Explorer program launched by NASA on 1 July 1966 on a mission of scientific exploration. It was the fourth satellite launched as part of the Interplanetary Monitoring Platform series, and the first of two "Anchored IMP" spacecraft to study the environment around Earth at lunar distances, aiding the Apollo program. It marked a departure in design from its predecessors, IMP-A (Explorer 18) through IMP-C (Explorer 28). Explorer 35 (AIMP-E, AIMP 2) was the companion spacecraft to Explorer 33 in the Anchored IMP program, but Explorer 34 (IMP-F) was the next spacecraft to fly, launching about two months before AIMP-E, both in 1967.[2]
- ^ "Trajectory: Explorer 33 (AIMP-1) 1966-058A)". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Explorer-series reference images". Retrieved 4 July 2021.
