Explorer 8

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Explorer 8
Operator NASA
Major contractors Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Mission type Earth science
Launch date November 3, 1960 at 05:16 UTC
Launch vehicle Juno II
Mission duration 54 days
Orbital decay 28 March 2012
COSPAR ID 1960 Xi 1
Mass 40.88 kg
Orbital elements
Eccentricity .120936
Inclination 33.24°
Apoapsis 2,288 km
Periapsis 417 km
Orbital period 112.7 minutes

Explorer 8 was a U.S. research satellite launched on November 3, 1960. It confirmed the existence of a helium layer in the upper atmosphere.[1] Explorer 8 decayed from orbit on 28 March 2012.

A replica is on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC.[2]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Explorers: Searching the Universe Forty Years Later". NASA Fact Sheets. Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA. Retrieved 2008-02-03. 
  2. ^ Explorer 8 satellite
  • Italics indicates probes that failed to deploy or otherwise malfunctioned
Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Manned flights are indicated in bold text. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in brackets.
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