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ASTRONAUT 1959 Explorer VI Satellite Program

Autographs

1959 Original Archive on Explorer VI Satellite Program

(ASTRONAUTS), 1959, Space Archive, Original Reports, Press Releases and Photos from the Explorer VI Program, Choice Near New.
This fantastic archive of material on the early American space program concerns the 1959 Explorer VI Program. All of this material is original and was officially released by NASA, the U.S. Air Force, or various subcontractors involved with the project. Seven 10" x 8" photos depict the satellite complete or partially disassembled. An eighth photograph shows the launch of the satellite atop a Thor-Able rocket. Also present are three 5" x 4" photos of key members of the project and a page of background biography. A 9 page press release by Space Technology Laboratories of Los Angeles contains more biographical information on members of the program, and a 24 page paper by Frank A. Burnham outlines the Explorer project to that point. Also present are a teletype page directed to Space Technology Laboratories and 4 pages of carbon copies or early photostatic copies of some technical information and a map of the satellite's trajectory. Further information includes a 13 page Press Release from NASA on the satellite; 4 press releases (10 pages) from Space Technology Laboratories; weekly bulletins #5 through #10 and 2 earlier bulletins (not numbered, for a total of 21 pages); an extra copy of one of the early bulletins, marked for distribution to Major Neuwrith; and 14 pages of press releases concerning their part in the project, from the University of Illinois, Motorola, Gulton Industries, Space Electronics Corporation, Rantec Corporation, Radio Propagation Laboratory (at Stanford University), Hoffman Electronics, Hallamore Electronics, Radiation Inc. (Melbourne, FL), and Gilfillan Brothers Inc. (Los Angeles). To this we have added about 50 pages of information on the program, downloaded from various internet sites. Aside from the teletype page which has a couple tape stains, this archive is like new. An incredible treasure of over 100 pages of first hand information on the Explorer Program.

Following the successful orbiting of the Russian Sputnik satellite in 1957, the United States stepped up its space program. Though Sputnik itself was of little importance, what it meant was that the Russians had succeeded in developing an intercontinental missile capable of striking the United States. The U.S. missile program had been largely unsuccessful up till that time, with some rockets exploding on the launch pad. Explorer 1, launched January 31, 1958, was the first successful orbiting of a U.S. satellite. Nevertheless, Explorer II and Explorer V were unsuccessful, as were a few others through 1961. Explorer VI was successful, though one of its solar panels failed to deploy, reducing its power supply. The satellite transmitted data until October 6, 1959 when its power supply failed. Later in 1959 the satellite was used as a target for an anti-satellite missile test. The missile passed within a few kilometers of the satellite but failed to hit it. Explorer VI burned up in the atmosphere when its orbit decayed on July 1, 1961.