Explorer 48 (SAS-B / Small Astronomy Satellite B), NASA's second SAS spacecraft dedicated to mapping galactic and extragalactic gamma rays from 20–300 MeV. Scout D-1 from the San Marco platform off Kenya placed the craft in near-equatorial LEO on 15 November 1972; the telescope worked until a power-supply failure in June 1973.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- LEO
- Low Earth orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 174 kg
- Flight
- 2nd
- of 15 Scout D-1 flights
- Date and time
- 15 November 1972, 22:13 UTC
- Rocket
- Scout D-1
- Builder
- Vought
- Launch site
- San Marco platform, Broglio Space Center, Kenya
- Payload
- Astrophysics
- International designator
- 1972-091
- Launches in 1972
- 97th of 113
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