# ERS 6
**Wikidata**: [Q2435520](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2435520)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ers-6

## Summary  
ERS 6 is a research satellite launched on May 9, 1963, as part of the U.S. scientific space program. It was launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 using an Atlas-Agena B rocket. Its primary purpose was to conduct scientific experiments in space.

## Key Facts  
- COSPAR ID: 1963-014C  
- SCN identifier: 00608  
- Instance of: Research satellite  
- Launch date: May 9, 1963  
- Launch site: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3  
- Launch vehicle: Atlas-Agena B  
- Significant event: Rocket launch on May 9, 1963 at Vandenberg SLC-3  
- Sitelink count: 3  
- Wikipedia languages: Galician (gl), Polish (pl), Portuguese (pt)  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is ERS 6?  
A: ERS 6 is a research satellite launched by the United States for scientific purposes. It was deployed into orbit on May 9, 1963, from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 using an Atlas-Agena B launch vehicle.

### Q: When was ERS 6 launched?  
A: ERS 6 was launched on May 9, 1963.

### Q: What kind of satellite is ERS 6?  
A: ERS 6 is classified as a research satellite, designed specifically for conducting scientific investigations in space.

## Why It Matters  
ERS 6 represents an early milestone in the use of satellites for dedicated scientific research during the 1960s. As part of the broader effort to explore space-based science, it contributed to advancing understanding of Earth's upper atmosphere and near-space environment. Though limited in scope compared to modern missions, ERS 6 exemplifies the foundational steps taken toward establishing long-term space-based research infrastructure. Its successful deployment demonstrated the viability of using expendable launch systems like Atlas-Agena B for precise orbital insertion of small-scale experimental payloads.

## Notable For  
- Being launched aboard the Atlas-Agena B, a reliable but historically transitional launch system  
- Having a unique COSPAR ID (1963-014C) identifying its place among early U.S. space missions  
- Serving as one of several early uncrewed scientific platforms supporting atmospheric and geophysical studies  
- Being catalogued under SCN code 00608, used in Wolfram Language for identification  

## Body  

### Mission Overview  
ERS 6 was developed as a dedicated research satellite intended to carry out scientific observations from low Earth orbit. The mission supported objectives aligned with mid-20th century efforts to expand knowledge of outer space through instrumentation carried aboard unmanned spacecraft.

### Launch Details  
The satellite was successfully launched on **May 9, 1963**, utilizing the **Atlas-Agena B** two-stage launch vehicle. The launch occurred at **Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3**, located in California, which was commonly used for polar-orbiting satellite deployments.

#### Launch Vehicle: Atlas-Agena B  
- Type: Expendable launch system  
- Commonly used for launching smaller scientific and military satellites during the 1960s  
- Provided sufficient payload capacity and accuracy for placing satellites such as ERS 6 into planned orbits  

### Classification and Identification  
ERS 6 has been categorized as a **research satellite**, indicating its function within the domain of scientific exploration rather than communication or reconnaissance. Several identifiers have been assigned to track the object across databases:

- **COSPAR ID**: 1963-014C  
- **SCN Code**: 00608  
- Referenced in academic sources including *NSSDCA* (via Q6272367)

### Related Entities  
- **Research Satellite [Class]** – Artificial satellite designed for scientific research  
- **Atlas-Agena B [Class]** – An expendable launch system widely used by NASA and the U.S. Air Force during the 1960s  

### Legacy and Documentation  
ERS 6 is documented in multiple language editions of Wikipedia, including entries in Galician, Polish, and Portuguese. Additionally, it appears in structured knowledge bases such as Google’s Knowledge Graph (/g/122lq3fd) and Wolfram Language (Entity["Satellite", "00608"]), reflecting its recognition in both general and technical contexts.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report