🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
NASA S-48
Retired 1966NASA S-48 (NORAD 870, COSPAR 1964-051A) is a retired US satellite, withdrawn from service around 1 Jul 1966, launched on 25 Aug 1964 on the NASA S-48 mission. It was operated by GSFC as part of the Explorer IE programme. The spacecraft was built by CHAIL on the S-48 bus, with a mass of 44 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.
1964
launched
1966
retired
62
years on orbit
44
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched25 Aug 1964 · on the NASA S-48 mission
Operational1 Jul 1966 · entered service
Retired1 Jul 1966 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID870
COSPAR1964-051A
TypeSatellite
OperatorGSFC
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerCHAIL
BusS-48
Mass44 kg
ProgrammeExplorer IE
CategorySCI
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude869 × 1,018 km
Inclination79.9°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to NASA S-48?
NASA S-48 was retired from service around 1 Jul 1966 after launching in 1964. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
Who operated and built NASA S-48?
NASA S-48 was operated by GSFC and built by CHAIL (US).
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.