Explorer Program

Unveiling the Physics of the Cosmos

Program Overview

The Explorer program is the oldest running series of scientific spacecraft. Starting with Explorer 1, which discovered the Van Allen radiation belts, the program has deployed over 200 satellites and probes to measure radiation, cosmic dust, magnetic fields, and solar emissions.

Archival Image

Explorer Program representative photography

Missions & Launches

Crewed Flight Log

No crewed flights in this program.

Uncrewed / Robotic Log

Explorer 1

1958-02-02
Success Details

Explorer 2

1959-03-03
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Explorer 3

1959-04-04
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Explorer 4

1960-05-05
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Explorer 5

1960-06-06
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Explorer 6

1961-07-07
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Explorer 7

1961-08-08
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Explorer 8

1962-09-09
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Explorer 9

1963-10-10
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Explorer 10

1963-11-11
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Explorer 11

1964-12-12
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Explorer 12

1964-01-13
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Explorer 13

1965-02-14
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Explorer 14

1965-03-15
Success Details

Explorer 15

1966-04-16
Success Details

Showing first 15 uncrewed flights. Search the Missions Directory for more.