# Radio Astronomy Explorer A

> NASA artificial satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q3736075](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3736075)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_38)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/radio-astronomy-explorer-a

## Summary
Radio Astronomy Explorer A (RAE-A), also known as Explorer 38, was a NASA artificial satellite launched in 1968 to study radio astronomy from space. It was part of the Explorer program and marked a significant step in observing celestial radio sources beyond Earth's atmosphere.

## Key Facts
- Launched on **July 4, 1968**, from **Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2** aboard a **Delta J** rocket.
- Also known by aliases **Explorer 38** and **RAE-A**.
- **COSPAR ID**: 1968-055A, **NSSDCA ID**: 1968-055A.
- Preceded by **Solrad 9** and succeeded by **Explorer 39** in the Explorer program.
- Classified as an **artificial satellite** under NASA’s space exploration initiatives.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Radio Astronomy Explorer A?
A: RAE-A was designed to conduct radio astronomy observations from space, allowing scientists to study celestial radio sources without interference from Earth's atmosphere.

### Q: When and where was Radio Astronomy Explorer A launched?
A: It was launched on **July 4, 1968**, from **Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2** using a **Delta J** rocket.

### Q: What were the other names for this satellite?
A: It was also called **Explorer 38** and **RAE-A**.

### Q: What came before and after RAE-A in the Explorer program?
A: It was preceded by **Solrad 9** and followed by **Explorer 39**.

## Why It Matters
Radio Astronomy Explorer A played a crucial role in advancing space-based radio astronomy. By operating outside Earth's atmosphere, it provided clearer and more accurate data on celestial radio emissions, free from terrestrial interference. This mission contributed to our understanding of cosmic phenomena, such as pulsars and galactic radio sources, and paved the way for future radio astronomy satellites. Its findings helped refine models of the universe and demonstrated the value of space-based observatories in astronomical research.

## Notable For
- Being one of the first NASA satellites dedicated to **radio astronomy** from space.
- Successfully launched as part of the **Explorer program**, a long-running series of scientific satellites.
- Providing data that complemented ground-based radio telescopes by avoiding atmospheric distortion.
- Serving as a precursor to later radio astronomy missions, including its successor, **Explorer 39**.

## Body
### Launch and Mission Details
- **Launch Date**: July 4, 1968.
- **Launch Site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Delta J, an American expendable launch system.
- **Mission Type**: Radio astronomy observation.

### Technical Specifications
- **COSPAR ID**: 1968-055A (international designation).
- **NSSDCA ID**: 1968-055A (NASA catalog number).
- **Satellite Class**: Artificial satellite, part of NASA’s Explorer program.

### Context in the Explorer Program
- **Predecessor**: Solrad 9, another NASA artificial satellite.
- **Successor**: Explorer 39, which continued radio astronomy research.

### Scientific Contributions
- Enabled observations of **celestial radio sources** without atmospheric interference.
- Supported studies of **pulsars, quasars, and galactic radio emissions**.
- Data from RAE-A helped validate and improve existing astronomical models.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Radio Astronomy Explorer A",
  "description": "NASA artificial satellite launched in 1968 to study radio astronomy from space, also known as Explorer 38.",
  "sameAs": [
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    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_38"
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  "additionalType": "ArtificialSatellite"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report