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Explorer 7 was launched on a Juno II rocket on October 13, 1959, from the Atlantic Missile Range. The satellite was designed to measure solar X-rays and Lyman-alpha flux, trapped energetic particles, and heavy primary cosmic rays. Secondary objectives included studying the Earth-atmosphere heat balance and collecting data on micrometeoroid penetration and molecular sputtering.

Data

2 Datasets
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Type

Space Observation Satellite

Objective

Monitoring of solar radiation and cosmic rays

Launch

October 13, 1959

Data Center

GES DISC

The spin-stabilized satellite's external structure consisted of two truncated, conical fiberglass shells joined by a cylindrical aluminum center section. Explorer 7 was 76 cm wide at its equator and about 76 cm high, with a payload mass of about 41.5 kg. It was powered by approximately 3000 solar cells mounted on both the upper and lower shells. 

There were six experiments aboard the Explorer 7 spacecraft: 

  • Ground Based Ionospheric 

  • Heavy Primary Cosmic Rays 

  • Micrometeorite 

  • Solar X-Ray and Lyman-Alpha Radiation 

  • Thermal Radiation 

  • Trapped Radiation and Solar Protons 

Explorer 7 Mission Preservation Documents

Instruments Aboard Explorer-7

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