# Explorer S-46

> NASA satellite of the Explorer program

**Wikidata**: [Q5853420](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5853420)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_S-46_(satellite))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/explorer-s-46

## Summary
Explorer S-46 was a NASA research satellite and part of the Explorer program, launched on March 23, 1960. Weighing 15.7 kilograms, it was deployed using a Juno II launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral. The satellite was designed for scientific research and is also known by the designations S-46 and S-46A.

## Key Facts
*   **Launch Date:** March 23, 1960
*   **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Juno II
*   **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 26
*   **Mass:** 15.7 kilograms
*   **Classification:** Research satellite
*   **Alternate Names:** S-46, S-46A
*   **NSSDCA ID:** EXS-46

## FAQs
### Q: When was Explorer S-46 launched?
A: Explorer S-46 was launched on March 23, 1960. It lifted off from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 26.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Explorer S-46?
A: The satellite was launched aboard a Juno II rocket. This was an American space launch vehicle frequently used by NASA during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

### Q: What was the purpose of the Explorer S-46?
A: Explorer S-46 was a research satellite designed for scientific research. It was part of NASA's broader Explorer program to conduct studies in space.

## Why It Matters
Explorer S-46 represents a specific era of early space exploration history, serving as an example of the hardware and missions undertaken during the transition from the 1950s to the 1960s. As a NASA-operated research satellite, it contributed to the agency's initial wave of scientific data gathering following the establishment of the agency.

The mission highlights the reliance on the Juno II launch vehicle during this period, a booster derived from the Juno I and used for critical early payload deliveries. Launching from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 26, the mission is part of the historical record of one of the most active phases of early American spaceflight development.

## Notable For
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Utilizing the Juno II rocket, a prominent booster of the early Space Age.
*   **Classification:** Being designated specifically as a "research satellite" intended for scientific inquiry.
*   **Historical Context:** Operating during the early years of NASA's Explorer program in 1960.
*   **Designation:** Being identified by the alternate aliases S-46 and S-46A.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Explorer S-46 was an artificial satellite operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the Explorer program. Its primary classification was that of a research satellite, intended to facilitate scientific research in space.

### Technical Specifications
The satellite had a total mass of 15.7 kilograms. It is cataloged in the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDCA) under the ID EXS-46.

### Launch Details
The satellite was launched on March 23, 1960. The mission utilized a Juno II launch vehicle, a four-stage American booster rocket used extensively during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The launch originated from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 26. This event is recorded as a significant rocket launch event in the timeline of the Explorer program.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report