# Injun 3

> American geophysical research satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q11712560](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11712560)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/injun-3

## Summary
Injun 3 was an American geophysical research satellite launched in 1962 as part of the University of Iowa's Injun series. It was designed to study Earth's magnetic field, radiation belts, and other geophysical phenomena until its battery failed in 1963.

## Key Facts
- Launched on **December 13, 1962**, at **04:07 UTC** from **Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 East**.
- Mass: **52 kg**, powered by a **spacecraft solar array**.
- Funded by the **United States Navy** and part of the **Injun satellite series**.
- COSPAR ID: **1962-067B**, NSSDCA ID: **1962-067B**.
- Followed **Injun 2** (lost in a launch failure) and preceded **Injun 4**.
- Battery failure occurred in **October 1963**, ending its operational life.
- Re-entered Earth's atmosphere on **August 25, 1968**.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Injun 3?
A: Injun 3 was a geophysical research satellite designed to study Earth's magnetic field, radiation belts, and other space environment phenomena.

### Q: When was Injun 3 launched?
A: It was launched on **December 13, 1962**, from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 East.

### Q: What happened to Injun 3?
A: Its battery failed in **October 1963**, ending its mission, and it re-entered Earth's atmosphere in **1968**.

### Q: Who funded Injun 3?
A: The satellite was funded by the **United States Navy**.

### Q: What was the mass of Injun 3?
A: The satellite had a mass of **52 kilograms**.

## Why It Matters
Injun 3 contributed to early space-based geophysical research, helping scientists better understand Earth's magnetic field and radiation environment. As part of the Injun series, it played a role in advancing satellite technology and space science during the 1960s. Its data aided in the study of space weather and its effects on spacecraft, which remains relevant for modern satellite operations.

## Notable For
- Being part of the **Injun series**, a pioneering set of research satellites.
- Conducting early geophysical studies of Earth's magnetic field and radiation belts.
- One of the first satellites to use a **solar array** for power.
- Despite its short operational life, it provided valuable data before its battery failure.

## Body
### Launch and Mission
Injun 3 was launched on **December 13, 1962**, using a **Thor-Agena D** rocket from **Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 East**. It was the third satellite in the **Injun series**, developed by the **University of Iowa**.

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass**: 52 kg
- **Power Source**: Spacecraft solar array
- **COSPAR ID**: 1962-067B
- **NSSDCA ID**: 1962-067B

### Operational History
- The satellite operated until **October 1963**, when its battery failed.
- It remained in orbit until **August 25, 1968**, when it re-entered Earth's atmosphere.

### Scientific Contributions
Injun 3 was designed to study:
- Earth's magnetic field
- Radiation belts
- Other geophysical phenomena

### Relationship to Other Satellites
- **Preceded by**: Injun 2 (lost in a launch failure)
- **Followed by**: Injun 4 (part of NASA's Explorer program)

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Injun 3",
  "description": "American geophysical research satellite launched in 1962 as part of the Injun series.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injun_3"
  ],
  "additionalType": "ResearchSatellite"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/injun-3.htm)
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-067B)