Injun (satellite)

The Injun program was a series of six satellites designed and built by researchers at the University of Iowa to observe various radiation and magnetic phenomena in the ionosphere and beyond.

Injun 2 satellite

The design specifics of the satellites had little in common, though all were solar-powered and the first five used magnetic stabilization to control spacecraft attitude. (The last in the series was spin-stabilized.) Instruments included particle detectors of varying types, magnetometers, and photometers for observing auroras.^[1] The last three satellites were launched as part of the Explorer program of NASA.

In spite of various hardware difficulties and the loss of Injun 2 due to an upper stage failure, the program was generally successful. In particular, they produced data on the Van Allen radiation belts including electrical convection in the magnetosphere,^[2] and the radiation after effects of the Starfish Prime high-altitude nuclear test.^[3]

Launch

Name	Also known as	Launched	Vehicle	Ceased operation		Notes
Injun 1		29 June 1961	Thor-Able	6 March 1963		Failed to separate from Solrad 3; still in orbit.[4]
Injun 2		24 January 1962	Thor-Able	Failed to orbit		Upper stage produced insufficient thrust.
Injun 3		12 December 1962	Thor-Agena	25 August 1968		Deorbited on 25 August 1968.
Injun 4	IE-B, Explorer 25	21 November 1964	Scout X-4	December 1966		Still in orbit.[5]
Injun 5	IE-C, Explorer 40	8 August 1968	Scout X-4	June 1971		Still in orbit.[6]
Injun 6	IE-D, Hawkeye, Neutral Point Explorer, Explorer 52	3 June 1974	Scout X-4	28 April 1978		Main article: Explorer 52

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• Donald Gurnett