# Explorer 23

> NASA satellite of the Explorer program

**Wikidata**: [Q3501369](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3501369)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_23)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/explorer-23

## Summary
Explorer 23 is a NASA satellite and spacecraft launched on November 6, 1964, as part of the Explorer program. It was successfully deployed from the Wallops Flight Facility to conduct space research, following the ionospheric research satellite Beacon Explorer-B.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** November 6, 1964
- **Launch Vehicle:** Scout X-4 (Scout family)
- **Launch Site:** Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3
- **COSPAR ID:** 1964-074A
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 00924
- **Part of:** Explorer S-55 series
- **Preceded by:** Beacon Explorer-B (ionospheric research satellite)
- **Succeeded by:** Explorer 24 (atmospheric density research satellite)
- **Classification:** Spacecraft / Artificial satellite

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the Explorer 23 mission?
A: Explorer 23 was a NASA spacecraft launched as part of the Explorer program. It was part of the Explorer S-55 series of satellites designed for space flight and research.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Explorer 23?
A: The satellite was launched using the Scout X-4, an American launch vehicle belonging to the Scout family of rockets.

### Q: Where was Explorer 23 launched from?
A: Explorer 23 was launched from Launch Area 3 at the Wallops Flight Facility.

### Q: Which satellites are closely related to Explorer 23?
A: Explorer 23 was preceded in the Explorer program by Beacon Explorer-B and succeeded by Explorer 24. It is also a part of the Explorer S-55 project.

## Why It Matters
Explorer 23 is a significant component of the NASA Explorer program, specifically representing a successful mission within the Explorer S-55 series. This series is notable in space history for its varied outcomes, including the fact that the Explorer S-55 parent project involved an artificial satellite lost in a previous launch failure. The successful deployment of Explorer 23 from Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3 served as a key operational milestone for NASA in the mid-1960s.

The satellite utilized the Scout X-4 launch vehicle, which was a member of the American Scout family of rockets, demonstrating the utility of this specific launch platform for scientific missions. Its placement in the mission sequence is also scientifically relevant; it followed the ionospheric research conducted by Beacon Explorer-B and preceded the atmospheric density research performed by Explorer 24. By maintaining this sequence, Explorer 23 contributed to the broader objectives of the Explorer program. As a documented spacecraft with specific identifiers such as COSPAR ID 1964-074A and Satellite Catalog Number 00924, it remains a permanent and verifiable part of the historical record of early American space exploration and artificial satellite development.

## Notable For
- **Explorer S-55 Series:** It was a successful mission within the S-55 series, which had previously seen a satellite lost in a launch failure.
- **Scout X-4 Launch:** Utilized the Scout X-4 American launch vehicle for its insertion into space.
- **Mission Sequence:** Occupies the specific chronological slot between the ionospheric research of Beacon Explorer-B and the atmospheric density research of Explorer 24.
- **Wallops Flight Facility:** One of the notable missions launched from Launch Area 3 at the Wallops facility.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Explorer 23 is a NASA satellite categorized as a spacecraft. It was launched on November 6, 1964, as part of the long-running Explorer program. The mission is specifically linked to the Explorer S-55 series of artificial satellites.

### Launch and Technical Details
The satellite was launched from Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3. The launch vehicle employed for this mission was the Scout X-4, a member of the American Scout family of rockets. 

Technical identifiers for the mission include:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1964-074A
*   **NSSDCA ID:** 1964-074A
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 00924
*   **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "00924"]

### Chronological Context
In the sequence of NASA's Explorer missions, Explorer 23 was preceded by Beacon Explorer-B, a satellite dedicated to ionospheric research. It was succeeded by Explorer 24, which was designed for atmospheric density research. 

### Program Relationship
Explorer 23 is a part of the Explorer S-55 project. This project is noted for the loss of a previous artificial satellite during a launch failure, making the successful launch and operation of Explorer 23 a significant event for the program.

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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report