Explorer 9

  1961-004

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The second S-56 payload, S-056A, was launched on 1961 Feb 16 by Scout X-1 from Launch Area 3 at Wallops Island. It reached orbit at 1316 and the balloon canister split to begin inflation of the 6 kg, 3.5m diameter balloon. The balloon's radio beacon failed on the first orbit, but the final rocket stage transmitted until 1961 Feb 25. The orbit of Explorer 9 was 634 x 2583 km x 38.9 deg. It reentered on 1964 Apr 3.

Explorer 9
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1961 Feb 16	1305	Launch by Scout X-1	WI LA3
		T+0:42 St 1 burnout
		T+1:10 St 1 sep
		T+1:10 St 2 burn 40 km
		T+1:51 St 2 burnout
		T+1:56 St 3 burn
		T+1:56 St 2 sep 94 km
		T+1:56 Fairing sep
		T+2:36 St 3 burnout
		T+9:39 St 4 spinup
		T+9:41 St 3 sep
	1314	T+9:42 Stage 4 burn, V = 4.5 km/s dV = 3.0 km/s	-5050? x 641 x 38.8
	1316	T+10:22 Stage 4 burnout 52.5W 35.2N
		T+10:28 Canister opened
		T+10:29 Balloon inflation
	1320	T+14:59 Balloon ejected
	1420	end of balloon transmissions
1961 Feb 25		end of Altair transmissions
			634 x 2583 x 38.9
1964 Apr 3		Reentered