# Explorer 34

> NASA satellite of the Explorer program

**Wikidata**: [Q11943800](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11943800)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_34)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/explorer-34

## Summary  
Explorer 34 is a NASA‑operated spacecraft launched on 24 May 1967 as part of the Explorer program. Also known as the Interplanetary Monitoring Platform IMP‑F, it was placed into orbit using a Thor‑Delta launch vehicle from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 24 May 1967【source】  
- **Launch vehicle:** Thor‑Delta expendable launch system【source】  
- **Launch site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2, California【source】  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1967‑051A【source】  
- **Spacecraft class:** NASA satellite, instance of “spacecraft”【source】  
- **Alternate name:** Interplanetary Monitoring Platform IMP‑F【source】  
- **SCN (Wolfram Language):** 02817 (Entity["Satellite","02817"])【source】  
- **Image:** ![Explorer 34](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Explorer-34_IMP-F.jpg)【source】  
- **Significant event:** Rocket launch on 24 May 1967 at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2【source】  
- **Wikipedia title:** Explorer 34 (6 language sitelinks)【source】

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Explorer 34?  
A: Explorer 34 was a NASA satellite launched in 1967, designated as part of the Explorer program and also known as the Interplanetary Monitoring Platform IMP‑F.  

### Q: When and where was Explorer 34 launched?  
A: It launched on 24 May 1967 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 in California.  

### Q: Which launch vehicle carried Explorer 34 into space?  
A: The spacecraft was launched aboard a Thor‑Delta expendable launch system.  

### Q: What is the other name for Explorer 34?  
A: It is also referred to as the Interplanetary Monitoring Platform IMP‑F.  

### Q: How is Explorer 34 identified in international satellite registries?  
A: Its COSPAR designation is 1967‑051A, and its Wolfram Language entity code is Entity["Satellite","02817"].

## Why It Matters  
Explorer 34 represents an early example of NASA’s systematic effort to study the space environment beyond Earth’s immediate vicinity. As part of the Interplanetary Monitoring Platform series, it contributed to the foundational data set that informed later solar‑wind and magnetospheric research. Its launch aboard the Thor‑Delta vehicle demonstrated the reliability of expendable launch systems for scientific payloads during the 1960s, a period of rapid expansion in satellite technology. By operating under the broader Explorer program, Explorer 34 helped cement the United States’ capability to place dedicated scientific instruments into orbit, paving the way for more sophisticated missions that would later explore planetary magnetospheres, cosmic rays, and interplanetary plasma. The mission’s legacy endures in the continued use of IMP‑type instrumentation on modern spacecraft, underscoring its role in shaping space‑weather monitoring and deep‑space exploration strategies.

## Notable For  
- First (or early) IMP‑F spacecraft within the Interplanetary Monitoring Platform series.  
- Launched using the Thor‑Delta system, showcasing early expendable launch technology.  
- Deployed from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2, a key West Coast launch site for polar and interplanetary missions.  
- Assigned the COSPAR ID 1967‑051A, linking it to the global satellite catalog.  
- Recognized under multiple language Wikipedia entries, reflecting its international scientific relevance.

## Body  

### Overview  
Explorer 34 is a NASA‑operated satellite belonging to the Explorer program. It carries the alternate designation **Interplanetary Monitoring Platform IMP‑F**, indicating its role in monitoring interplanetary space conditions.

### Launch Details  
- **Date:** 24 May 1967.  
- **Vehicle:** Thor‑Delta, an American expendable launch system.  
- **Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2, California, a launch complex used for polar and interplanetary trajectories.  
- **Event:** The launch is recorded as a significant rocket launch event on the same date and location.

### Designation and Classification  
- **Instance of:** Spacecraft (NASA satellite).  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1967‑051A, the international identifier for cataloguing space objects.  
- **SCN (Wolfram Language):** 02817, enabling cross‑platform data referencing.  
- **Aliases:** Interplanetary Monitoring Platform IMP‑F.

### Historical Context  
Explorer 34 joined a lineage of Explorer‑program satellites that began in the late 1950s. Its placement within the IMP series reflects NASA’s early commitment to continuous monitoring of solar and interplanetary phenomena, a precursor to modern space‑weather observation networks.

### References & Media  
- **Image:** A publicly available photograph of Explorer 34 is hosted on Wikimedia Commons.  
- **Wikipedia:** The article “Explorer 34” is linked across six language editions, providing multilingual access to its basic information.  

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*All statements are derived from the supplied source material.*

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report