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| Explorer 10 "SpaceCraft" illustrated cachet cover signed by Dr. James Van Allen, an American space scientist at the University of Iowa, played a key role in establishing the field of magnetospheric research in space. |
(Reference from Explorer 10)
1961-03-25 USA Explorer 10
Explorer 10 (also known as Explorer X or P14) was an American Earth-orbital satellite that studied Earth's magnetic fields and surrounding plasma. Launched on March 25, 1961, it was an early mission in the Explorer program and the first satellite to detect the "shock wave" created by a solar flare. Its primary goal was to examine magnetic fields and plasma as the spacecraft traversed Earth's magnetosphere and entered cislunar space.
Due to the limited lifespan of its batteries, the spacecraft was able to transmit useful data in real time for just 52 hours during the ascent of its first orbit, after which all transmissions ceased several hours later.
(Reference from Explorer 10)
(Reference from Explorer 10)
