Explorer 51 (Atmosphere Explorer-C / AE-C), a NASA Earth-science satellite launched on a Delta 1900 from Vandenberg to study thermosphere energy transfer, photoionization, and upper-atmosphere chemistry.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- Elliptical
- Elliptical orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 668 kg
- Flight
- 1st
- Only Delta 1900 flight
- Date and time
- 16 December 1973, 06:18 UTC
- Rocket
- Delta 1900
- Builder
- McDonnell Douglas
- Launch site
- Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Payload
- Earth Science
- International designator
- 1973-101
- Launches in 1973
- 108th of 116
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
View satellites in Space Atlas