# Explorer 13

> American satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q1166021](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1166021)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_13)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/explorer-13

## Summary
Explorer 13 was an American research satellite launched in 1961 to study radiation and micrometeoroids in Earth's orbit. It was part of the Explorer program and utilized the Scout X-1 launch vehicle. The mission contributed to early space environment research.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: August 25, 1961
- **COSPAR ID**: 1961-022A
- **SCN Number**: 00180
- **Launch Site**: Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3
- **Launch Vehicle**: Scout X-1
- **Class**: Research satellite (EPE-B type)
- **Preceded By**: EPE-A satellites
- **Mission Focus**: Radiation and micrometeoroid detection

## FAQs
### Q: When was Explorer 13 launched?
A: Explorer 13 was launched on August 25, 1961, from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

### Q: What was the primary mission of Explorer 13?
A: Its mission was to study radiation and micrometeoroids in near-Earth space, contributing to early understanding of the space environment.

### Q: What type of satellite was Explorer 13?
A: It was a research satellite classified under the EPE-B (Explorer Program for Earth studies) category, part of the broader Explorer program.

## Why It Matters
Explorer 13 played a role in early space research by investigating radiation and micrometeoroid impacts, critical for understanding orbital hazards. As part of the NASA Explorer program, it helped lay groundwork for subsequent satellite missions. Its use of the Scout X-1 rocket demonstrated the capabilities of expendable launch systems during the 1960s space race era. While its individual findings may not be as widely cited as later missions, it exemplifies the iterative progress of early space science.

## Notable For
- Part of the EPE (Explorer Program for Earth studies) series focused on radiation and micrometeoroid detection.
- Utilized the Scout X-1 launch vehicle, a key expendable rocket of the early 1960s.
- Contributed to early datasets on the Van Allen radiation belts and orbital debris.

## Body
### Launch and Deployment
- **Date**: August 25, 1961
- **Location**: Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3, Virginia, USA
- **Rocket**: Scout X-1 (expendable launch system)

### Mission Objectives
- Study radiation patterns in Earth's orbit.
- Detect micrometeoroid impacts using onboard sensors.
- Test instrumentation for future Earth and space science missions.

### Specifications
- **Instrumentation**: Radiation detectors, micrometeoroid sensors.
- **Classification**: EPE-B type research satellite.
- **Predecessors**: EPE-A satellites (earlier Explorer Program missions).

### Outcome
- Provided data on radiation levels and micrometeoroid distribution.
- Operated as part of the broader Explorer program, which included over 90 missions.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Satellite",
  "name": "Explorer 13",
  "description": "American research satellite launched in 1961 to study radiation and micrometeoroids.",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_13",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_13"
  ],
  "additionalType": "EPE-B",
  "identifier": [
    {
      "@type": "PropertyValue",
      "name": "COSPAR ID",
      "value": "1961-022A"
    },
    {
      "@type": "PropertyValue",
      "name": "SCN",
      "value": "00180"
    }
  ],
  "launchDate": "1961-08-25",
  "launchSite": "Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report