# Explorer 54

> NASA satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q49894](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49894)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_54)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/explorer-54

## Summary
Explorer 54, also known as AE-D, was a NASA Earth observation satellite launched on October 6, 1975. It was designed specifically to observe Earth from orbit and was delivered into space using a Delta 2000 expendable launch system.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Explorer 54
- **Alternate Name:** AE-D
- **Classification:** Earth observation satellite
- **Operator:** NASA
- **Launch Date:** October 6, 1975
- **Launch Vehicle:** Delta 2000
- **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2
- **COSPAR ID:** 1975-096A
- **NSSDCA ID:** 1975-096A
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 08353

## FAQs
### Q: What was Explorer 54?
A: Explorer 54 was an artificial satellite operated by NASA, specifically classified as an Earth observation satellite designed to observe the planet from orbit. It is also identified by the designation AE-D.

### Q: When and how was Explorer 54 launched?
A: Explorer 54 was launched on October 6, 1975. It utilized a Delta 2000 rocket, which is a series of American expendable launch systems, launching from the Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.

### Q: What are the specific identifiers for Explorer 54?
A: The satellite holds the COSPAR ID and NSSDCA ID of 1975-096A. It also carries the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 08353.

## Why It Matters
Explorer 54 serves as a specific example of NASA's Earth observation initiatives during the mid-1970s. As an entity classified under the "Explorer" program, it contributed to the broader scientific effort to gather data about the Earth from space. Its launch aboard the Delta 2000 rocket system highlights the era's reliance on expendable launch vehicles to deploy scientific instrumentation into orbit. By occupying the classification of an Earth observation satellite, Explorer 54 represents the technological infrastructure used to monitor planetary conditions, a foundational element of modern space science. The mission underscores the operational capabilities of the Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 as a site for deploying polar-orbiting or Earth-observing payloads.

## Notable For
- Being a distinct unit in NASA's long-running Explorer program.
- Utilizing the Delta 2000 series, an American expendable launch system.
- Operating as a dedicated Earth observation satellite.
- Launching from the Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.
- Holding the dual designations of Explorer 54 and AE-D.

## Body
### Mission Identity and Classification
Explorer 54 is formally classified as an Earth observation satellite. In the context of space technology, this is defined as an artificial satellite specifically designed to observe Earth from orbit. The satellite is alternatively known by the alias **AE-D**.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on **October 6, 1975**. The mission utilized the **Delta 2000** launch vehicle, a series of American expendable launch systems used during that period. The launch originated from **Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2**, a specific site associated with the deployment of such payloads.

### Identifiers and Records
Explorer 54 is tracked in various space object catalogs under the following identifiers:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1975-096A
*   **NSSDCA ID:** 1975-096A
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 08353

The mission is documented as a "rocket launch" event in significant event records, pinpointing the location to Vandenberg and the time to late 1975.

### Visual and Archival Data
The satellite is visually documented in the Wikimedia Commons category "Explorer 54 (AE-D)." Its Google Knowledge Graph ID is `/g/1217clh2`, and it maintains a presence across multiple Wikipedia language editions including English, Spanish, French, and Italian.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report