1963-046A
IMP A (Interplanetary Monitoring Platform A, or Interplanetary Monitoring Platform 1 after launch) was the first in the series. The old NASA designation was S-74; the flight spacecraft was S/N 02.
Launch was 1963 Nov 27, 0230:01 by Delta C from Canaveral LC17B. Orbit insertion was at 0236:07 into a 192 x 197616 km x 33.3 deg orbit; the planned apogee was 277000 km but the Altair stage underburned. IMP I operated until 1965 Mar 25. The satellite was also called Explorer 18.
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| IMP 1 |
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| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
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| 1963 Nov 27 | 0230:01 | Launch by Delta C | CC LC17B |
| | 0232:27 | T+2:26 Thor MECO |
| | | T+2:28 Delta S/N 20012 SES, 2:51 |
| | | T+3:02 Fairing |
| | 0235:23 | T+5:17s Delta SECO |
| | 0235:37 | T+5:40s Delta sep | -640? x 192 x 33.3 |
| | 0235:43 | T+5:44s Altair 2 RH-60 burn, 24s |
| | 0236:08 | T+6:07 Altair 2 burnout |
| | 0301:21 | T+31:20 Altair sep | 192 x 197616 x 33.3 |
| | 0301:21 | IMP magnetometer deployed |
| | 2112? | Pass EL1:4 |
| 1964 Apr 3 | | | 5599.52 2072 x 194079 x 35.3 |
| 1964 Sep 4 | | | 5602.27 3864 x 192355 x 36.4 |
| 1965 Mar 25 | | | 5610.65 4385 x 192043 x 35.2 |
| 1965 Mar 25 | | End of ops |