Q: What was the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX)?

A: The MSX was a space observatory launched in 1996 to study the Earth's atmosphere, particularly its mesosphere and thermosphere, using infrared sensors to detect missile launches and other phenomena.

Q: What type of rocket was used to launch MSX?

A: The MSX was launched aboard a Delta II rocket, a retired expendable launch system in the Delta rocket family.

Q: Where was the MSX launched from?

A: The MSX was launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 on April 24, 1996.

Q: What was the COSPAR ID of the MSX mission?

A: The COSPAR ID of the MSX mission was 1996-024A.

Q: What was the primary purpose of the MSX?

A: The primary purpose of the MSX was to study the Earth's atmosphere, particularly its mesosphere and thermosphere, using infrared sensors to detect missile launches and other phenomena.

Midcourse Space Experiment

space observatory

Vehicle space_telescope Q970807

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Summary

Midcourse Space Experiment is a space telescope^[1].

Key Facts

Space launch vehicle: Delta II^[2]
UTC date of spacecraft launch: April 24, 1996^[3]
Significant event: rocket launch^[4]
Start point: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2^[5]

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Quick Facts

Instance of space telescope

Launch date 1996-04-24

Properties

Launch vehicle Delta II

Significant event rocket launch

Space launch vehicle Delta II

Start point Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2

Utc date of spacecraft launch April 24, 1996

Identifiers (6)

Image (Wikimedia Commons) Midcourse Space Experiment.png ↗

Cospar id 1996-024A

Freebase id /m/0b6jl1

Nssdca id 1996-024A

Scn 23851

Wolfram language entity code Entity["Satellite", "23851"]

🌐 Available in 7 languages

enMidcourse Space Experiment deMidcourse Space Experiment esMidcourse Space Experiment frMidcourse Space Experiment idMidcourse Space Experiment itMidcourse Space Experiment ruMidcourse Space Experiment

🏷️ Also known as

en Midcourse Space Experiment de MSX ja 中間域宇宙試験衛星 zh 太空中繼紅外實驗

🔗 Connections

Instance of 1

space telescope

Significant event 1

rocket launch

Space launch vehicle 1

Delta II

Start point 1

Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2

Subtypes 1

Toshiba HX-20

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

[2] ↑ Midcourse Space Experiment — space launch vehicle (P375): Delta II. Jonathan's Space Report. wikidata.org.
[3] ↑ Midcourse Space Experiment — UTC date of spacecraft launch (P619): April 24, 1996. Jonathan's Space Report. wikidata.org.
[4] ↑ Midcourse Space Experiment — significant event (P793): rocket launch. Jonathan's Space Report. wikidata.org.
[5] ↑ Midcourse Space Experiment — start point (P1427): Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2. Jonathan's Space Report. wikidata.org.

Class ancestry

[1] ↑ Midcourse Space Experiment is an instance of space telescope (Q148578) [P31, primary]. Wikidata. wikidata.org.

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4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Midcourse Space Experiment. Retrieved October 30, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/midcourse-space-experiment

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“Midcourse Space Experiment.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 30 Oct. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/midcourse-space-experiment.

BibTeX

@misc{4ortxyz_midcourse-space-experiment_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Midcourse Space Experiment}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/midcourse-space-experiment}, note = {Accessed: 2026-10-30}}

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According to 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph (aggregator of Wikidata, Wikipedia, and authoritative open-data sources): Midcourse Space Experiment — https://4ort.xyz/entity/midcourse-space-experiment (retrieved 2026-10-30)

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