# Explorer 60

> NASA research satellite launched on November 20, 1975

**Wikidata**: [Q3500122](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3500122)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_60)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/explorer-60

## Summary
Explorer 60, also known as SAGE I (Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment I), was a NASA research satellite launched on February 18, 1979, to study Earth's atmosphere. It was part of the Explorers Program and operated in low Earth orbit until its atmospheric re-entry in April 1989.

## Key Facts
- Launched on February 18, 1979, at 16:18 UTC from Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3
- Operated by NASA and manufactured by Boeing
- Mass: 148.7 kilograms
- Carried the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE I) scientific instrument
- Launched aboard a Scout D-1 rocket (S202C configuration)
- Re-entered Earth's atmosphere on April 11, 1989
- Also known as Applications Explorer Mission 2 (AEM-2), AEM-B, and SAGE
- Satellite of low Earth orbit

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Explorer 60?
A: Explorer 60 was designed to study Earth's stratosphere by measuring aerosol and gas concentrations using the SAGE I instrument. It provided valuable data about atmospheric composition and helped scientists understand stratospheric processes.

### Q: How long did Explorer 60 operate in space?
A: Explorer 60 operated in low Earth orbit for approximately 10 years, from its launch on February 18, 1979, until its atmospheric re-entry on April 11, 1989.

### Q: What type of rocket launched Explorer 60?
A: Explorer 60 was launched aboard a Scout D-1 rocket, specifically the S202C configuration, from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

## Why It Matters
Explorer 60 represents a significant contribution to atmospheric science and Earth observation. As the first SAGE mission, it pioneered the use of solar occultation techniques to measure stratospheric aerosols and gases, providing crucial baseline data for understanding atmospheric composition and changes over time. The mission's decade-long operation yielded valuable long-term datasets that helped scientists track atmospheric trends and validate climate models. Its success paved the way for subsequent SAGE missions and established solar occultation as a reliable method for atmospheric remote sensing. The data collected by Explorer 60 continues to be valuable for climate research and atmospheric studies, making it a foundational mission in NASA's Earth science program.

## Notable For
- First SAGE mission to use solar occultation for atmospheric measurements
- Decade-long continuous atmospheric monitoring mission
- Pioneered aerosol and gas measurement techniques still used today
- Part of NASA's cost-effective Explorers Program for scientific research
- Provided baseline data for tracking stratospheric ozone depletion

## Body
### Mission Overview
Explorer 60 was a NASA research satellite launched as part of the Applications Explorer Mission (AEM) program. The mission was designed to study Earth's stratosphere using the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) instrument, which measured atmospheric constituents by observing the sun as it rose and set through the atmosphere.

### Technical Specifications
The satellite had a mass of 148.7 kilograms and was manufactured by Boeing. It operated in low Earth orbit and was launched using a Scout D-1 rocket from Wallops Flight Facility. The mission carried the SAGE I instrument, which used solar occultation techniques to measure stratospheric aerosols and gases.

### Scientific Contributions
The SAGE I instrument on Explorer 60 provided the first comprehensive measurements of stratospheric aerosols and gases using solar occultation. This technique involves measuring the attenuation of sunlight as it passes through the atmosphere, allowing scientists to determine the concentration of various atmospheric constituents. The mission's decade-long operation provided valuable long-term data on atmospheric composition and changes.

### Mission Timeline
Explorer 60 was launched on February 18, 1979, at 16:18 UTC from Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3. The satellite operated successfully for approximately 10 years before re-entering Earth's atmosphere on April 11, 1989. During its operational lifetime, it provided continuous atmospheric measurements that contributed significantly to our understanding of stratospheric processes.

### Legacy
The success of Explorer 60 established solar occultation as a reliable method for atmospheric remote sensing and paved the way for subsequent SAGE missions. The data collected by this mission continues to be valuable for climate research and atmospheric studies, making it a foundational mission in NASA's Earth science program.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1979-013A)
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1979-013A)