Explorer: S-46

Explorer (8) (S 46) [NASA]

S-46 was launched using a Juno 2 rocket. Its mission was to analyze electron and proton radiation energies in a highly elliptical orbit. If it hat reached orbit, it would have received an Explorer designation.

It carried following experiments:

• CDS Proton Detector
• Electron Spectrometer
• High Energy GM Tube
• Medium Energy GM Tube

Launch vehicle telemetry was lost shortly after the first stage burnout and one of the upper stages failed to fire. The spacecraft did not achieve orbit.