# Explorer 10

> NASA satellite of the Explorer program

**Wikidata**: [Q2291441](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2291441)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_10)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/explorer-10

## Summary
Explorer 10, also known as Explorer X or P-14, was a NASA geomagnetic satellite launched in 1961 as part of the Explorer program. Its primary mission was to monitor Earth's magnetosphere and related regions from a highly elliptical orbit.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** March 25, 1961, at 15:17:04 UTC
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- **Mass:** 79 kilograms
- **Power Source:** Battery-powered
- **Launch Vehicle:** Thor-Delta (Thor 295/D-004)
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17A
- **Manufacturers:** Goddard Space Flight Center (spacecraft and magnetometer) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Faraday cup)
- **Mission End:** Loss of signal occurred circa March 27, 1961, at 23:00 UTC
- **Orbital Decay:** Atmospheric entry took place on June 1, 1968
- **Classification:** Geomagnetic satellite

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary mission of Explorer 10?
A: Explorer 10 was designed as a geomagnetic satellite to monitor Earth's magnetosphere and the surrounding regions of space. It utilized a highly elliptical orbit to gather data on these magnetic environments.

### Q: Who manufactured the instruments on Explorer 10?
A: The spacecraft and its magnetometer were manufactured by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The Faraday cup, another key scientific instrument on the satellite, was manufactured by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

### Q: How long did Explorer 10 remain operational?
A: The satellite had a very short operational life because it was powered by batteries. It launched on March 25, 1961, and the signal was lost approximately two days later on March 27, 1961.

### Q: What happened to Explorer 10 after its mission ended?
A: After losing signal in 1961, the satellite remained in a highly elliptical orbit for several years. It eventually underwent atmospheric entry and orbital decay on June 1, 1968.

## Why It Matters
Explorer 10 was a significant early component of the Explorer program, representing the tenth mission in a series of spacecraft dedicated to scientific exploration of space. As a geomagnetic satellite, it played a role in the early study of Earth's magnetosphere, a region of space controlled by Earth's magnetic field. 

The mission highlighted the collaborative nature of early American space efforts, involving NASA's first space flight center, Goddard, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Although its operational life was limited to roughly 52 hours due to its reliance on battery power rather than solar cells, it provided a snapshot of the geomagnetic environment during the early years of the Space Age. Its highly elliptical orbit was specifically chosen to allow the satellite to transition through different regions of the magnetosphere, contributing to the foundational understanding of Earth's interaction with the space environment.

## Notable For
- **Short Duration Mission:** The satellite was operational for only about two days before its battery power was exhausted and the signal was lost.
- **Academic Collaboration:** Featured a Faraday cup instrument developed and manufactured by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
- **Specific Orbit:** Utilized a highly elliptical orbit to study the magnetosphere, a design choice common for geomagnetic research satellites.
- **Launch System:** One of the early payloads for the Thor-Delta expendable launch system, specifically the Thor 295/D-004 configuration.

## Body

### Mission Launch and Designation
Explorer 10 was launched on March 25, 1961, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17A. Within the Explorer program, it was assigned the number 10, though it was also known by the aliases Explorer X and P-14. It followed the mission of Explorer 9 and was succeeded by the Explorer 11 space observatory.

### Technical Construction
The satellite was a 79 kg spacecraft. Its construction was divided between two major institutions:
*   **Goddard Space Flight Center:** Responsible for the manufacturing of the spacecraft bus and the magnetometer instrument.
*   **Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT):** Responsible for the manufacturing of the Faraday cup instrument.

Unlike many later satellites, Explorer 10 was powered exclusively by batteries, which dictated its short operational lifespan.

### Orbital Operations and Decay
Explorer 10 was placed into a highly elliptical orbit. The mission reached a significant milestone with the "loss of signal" on March 27, 1961, at approximately 23:00 UTC, just over 50 hours after launch. The satellite remained in orbit as an inactive object until June 1, 1968, when it reached its time of orbit decay and re-entered Earth's atmosphere.

### Scientific Classification and Identifiers
As an "instance of" a geomagnetic satellite, Explorer 10 is categorized alongside other spacecraft designed to monitor the magnetosphere. It is identified in various databases by the following markers:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1961-010A
*   **NSSDCA ID:** 1961-010A
*   **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number):** 00098
*   **Harvard Designation:** 1961 Kappa 1

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## References

1. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1961-010A-01)
2. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1961-010A-02)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/explorer_p14.htm)
5. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1961-010A)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1961-010A)