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IMP Spacecraft Series

ResourceID
spase://SMWG/Observatory/IMP

Description

The IMP spacecraft series. Prelaunch, the 10 IMP's were
called IMP's A-J. 8 of them were intended for geocentric orbits
(A-C, F-J) and 2 for selenocentric orbits (D,E). Prelaunch, the
latter two were also called Anchored IMPs (AIMPs) A and B.
After launch, the 8 intended for geocentric were also called
IMPs 1-8 and the 2 intended for lunar orbit were called
AIMP 1 and 2. Only IMP E = AIMP B = AIMP 2 achieved lunar
orbit; IMP D = AIMP A = AIMP 1 went into a geocentric orbit.
The mapping of prelaunch IMP letters to postlaunch Explorer numbers
and IMP numbers was

      +-----------------------------------------------+
      | IMP (prelaunch) | IMP (postlaunch) | Explorer |
      |-----------------------------------------------|
      | A | 1 | 18 |
      | B | 2 | 21 |
      | C | 3 | 28 |
      | D |   | 33 |
      | E |   | 35 |
      | F | 4 | 34 |
      | G | 5 | 41 |
      | H | 7 | 47 |
      | I | 6 | 43 |
      | J | 8 | 50 |
      +------------+

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Details

Version:2.7.1

Observatory

ResourceID
spase://SMWG/Observatory/IMP
ResourceHeader
ResourceName
IMP Spacecraft Series
ReleaseDate
2026-07-20 16:22:45Z
RevisionHistory
RevisionEvent
ReleaseDate
2010-10-06 18:37:16Z
Note
Only known prior ReleaseDate of the metadata
RevisionEvent
ReleaseDate
2026-07-20 16:22:45Z
Note
Added HelioData InformationURL, Updated to SPASE Version 2.7.1. JWL
Description

The IMP spacecraft series. Prelaunch, the 10 IMP's were
called IMP's A-J. 8 of them were intended for geocentric orbits
(A-C, F-J) and 2 for selenocentric orbits (D,E). Prelaunch, the
latter two were also called Anchored IMPs (AIMPs) A and B.
After launch, the 8 intended for geocentric were also called
IMPs 1-8 and the 2 intended for lunar orbit were called
AIMP 1 and 2. Only IMP E = AIMP B = AIMP 2 achieved lunar
orbit; IMP D = AIMP A = AIMP 1 went into a geocentric orbit.
The mapping of prelaunch IMP letters to postlaunch Explorer numbers
and IMP numbers was

      +-----------------------------------------------+
      | IMP (prelaunch) | IMP (postlaunch) | Explorer |
      |-----------------------------------------------|
      | A | 1 | 18 |
      | B | 2 | 21 |
      | C | 3 | 28 |
      | D |   | 33 |
      | E |   | 35 |
      | F | 4 | 34 |
      | G | 5 | 41 |
      | H | 7 | 47 |
      | I | 6 | 43 |
      | J | 8 | 50 |
      +------------+
Contacts
RolePersonStartDateStopDateNote
1.MetadataContactspase://SMWG/Person/Jan.Merka
InformationURL
Name
HelioData
URL
Description

The HelioData mission page provides an overview of the mission and more, such as all SPASE dataset records associated with it.

Location
ObservatoryRegion
Heliosphere.NearEarth
ObservatoryRegion
Earth.Magnetosphere