Explorer 15
Explorer 15 (EPE-C)
Mission typeSpace physics
Harvard designation1962 βλ1
COSPAR ID1962-059A[1]
SATCAT no.445
Spacecraft properties
BusEPE Bus
Launch mass44.4 kg (98 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date27 October 1962, 23:17 (1962-10-27UTC23:17) UTC[2]
RocketDelta A[3]
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-17B
End of mission
Decay date19 December 1978 (1978-12-20)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeHighly Elliptical
Perigee altitude300 km (190 mi)[1]
Apogee altitude17,438 km (10,835 mi)[1]
Period311.4 minutes[1]
Epoch27 October 1962[1]

Explorer 15, also called EPE-C, was an American satellite launched as part of the Explorers program. Explorer 15 was launched on October 27, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, United States, with a Delta rocket.



One analog channel was subcommutated in a pattern 16 frames long and was used to telemeter spacecraft temperatures, power system voltages, electric currents, etc. A digital solar aspect sensor measured the spin period and phase, digitized to 0.041 s, and the angle between the spin axis and the sun direction to about 3° intervals. During launch the spacecraft failed to despin. The spin rate ranged from 72.9 to 73.2 rpm during the life of the spacecraft. The spin axis pointed at right ascension 80.97° and declination 20.9°.[1]


  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Explorer 15". NSSDC Master Catalog. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Jonathan's Space Page".
  3. ^ "EPE". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Mark Wade. Retrieved June 9, 2018.