S-56 (satellite)

S-56 was an American satellite launched by NASA on 4 December 1960 as part of the Explorers program.[1] The satellite was composed of a 3.66 meter (12 foot) diameter inflatable sphere, and was intended to study the density of the upper atmosphere. S-56 was launched on a Scout X-1 rocket, but failed to reach orbit due to the second stage not igniting. It was replaced by the identical Explorer 9 (S 56A) spacecraft.[2]

Citations
  1. "S-56". Encyclopedia Astronautica.
  2. "Explorer: AD". Gunter's Space Page.
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