Explorer 43

American satellite. Explorer 43 was launched on March 13, 1971 aboard a Thor Delta M6 from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: left Earth orbit for deep space (Mar 14, 1971).

COSPAR 1971-019ANORAD 5043United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: IMP 6
Common name: Explorer 43
Payload designation: IMP I
Other names: Explorer 43
International designator: 1971-019A
NORAD catalog number: 5043
GCAT identifier: S05043
UN registration: A/AC.105/INF.232

Mission

Mission type: Space science
Use: Civil government
Program: IMP
Owner: GSFC
Country: United States
Builder: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Platform (bus): IMP

Launch

Date: March 13, 1971 · 16:15 UTC
Launch record: 1971-019Success
Rocket: Thor Delta M6
Spaceport: Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad LC17A

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): DSO
Perigee: 1,569 km
Apogee: 203,825 km
Inclination: 30.20°
Status: Left Earth orbit for deep space
Status date: March 14, 1971
Last known active: Oct 2, 1974
End of operations: Oct 2, 1974

Size

Mass: 288 kg
Dry mass: 276 kg
Length: 1.8 m
Diameter: 1.40 m
Span: 92.0 m

Deep space

Deep-space catalog entry: D00364
Final central body: Earth
Phase start: March 14, 1971
Phase outcome: Reentered (orbital decay) · October 2, 1974

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q11984838 (CC0).