# Explorer 2

> American research satellite, lost during a launch vehicle failure

**Wikidata**: [Q553214](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q553214)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/explorer-2

## Summary
Explorer 2 was an American research satellite designed for scientific research that was lost during a launch vehicle failure. Launched on March 5, 1958, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 26, the satellite failed to reach orbit due to a failure of its Juno I booster rocket. It is classified as a former entity and had a mass of 14.52 kilograms.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** March 5, 1958
- **Launch Vehicle:** Juno I (four-stage American booster rocket)
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 26
- **Mass:** 14.52 kilograms
- **Mission Outcome:** Lost during a launch vehicle failure; failed to achieve orbit
- **Entity Type:** Research satellite (artificial satellite designed for scientific research)
- **NSSDCA ID:** EXPLR2
- **Current Status:** Former entity

## FAQs
### Q: Did Explorer 2 complete its mission?
A: No, Explorer 2 was lost during a launch vehicle failure and did not reach orbit. It is classified as a former entity.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Explorer 2?
A: The satellite was launched using a Juno I, a four-stage American booster rocket.

### Q: When and where was Explorer 2 launched?
A: Explorer 2 was launched on March 5, 1958, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 26.

## Why It Matters
Explorer 2 represents a specific chapter in early American space exploration history, specifically the initial efforts to deploy scientific infrastructure immediately following the International Geophysical Year. While the mission itself was unsuccessful—resulting in the loss of the satellite during the launch phase—it serves as a notable example of the technical challenges faced during the early space race.

The mission highlights the utilization of the Juno I launch vehicle, a four-stage American booster rocket, in attempts to place scientific payloads into space. Although Explorer 2 did not achieve its operational status, its documentation provides critical data on the iteration of early satellite technology. Weighing 14.52 kilograms, it was designed as a research satellite intended for scientific inquiry, reflecting the rapid development of compact aerospace instrumentation during the late 1950s.

## Notable For
- Being an early American research satellite launched in 1958.
- Its classification as a "former entity" due to the mission's failure to reach orbit.
- Utilizing the Juno I launch vehicle.
- Being lost during a launch vehicle failure.
- A recorded mass of 14.52 kg.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Specifications
Explorer 2 was an American research satellite developed for scientific purposes. Structurally, the entity is defined by the following technical specifications and launch parameters derived from records including the NASA History Division and Wikidata:

- **Mass:** The satellite had a total mass of 14.52 kilograms.
- **Classification:** It is an instance of a research satellite, defined as an artificial satellite designed for scientific research.
- **Identifier:** The NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive (NSSDCA) identifies the entity with the ID "EXPLR2".

### Launch Event
The significant event for Explorer 2 was its rocket launch, which took place on March 5, 1958.
- **Location:** The launch originated from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 26.
- **Vehicle:** The launch vehicle utilized was the Juno I, a four-stage American booster rocket.

### Outcome
Unlike successful missions in the Explorer program, Explorer 2 did not achieve its intended orbit. The mission concluded with the satellite being lost during a launch vehicle failure. Consequently, the entity is archived as a former entity in historical records.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/expinfo.html)