Space History Photo: Explorer XVII Satellite

space history, explorer xvii satellite, atmospheric measurements

Explorer XVII Satellite (Image credit: NASA.)

In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, a researcher works on this 35-inch (89-cm) pressurized stainless steel sphere, weighing 405 lbs. (184 kg), used to measure the density, composition, pressure and temperature of Earth's atmosphere after its launch from Cape Canaveral on April 3, 1963.

The mission was one of three that Goddard Space Flight Center specifically conducted to learn more about the atmosphere's physical properties, knowledge that they ultimately used for scientific and meteorological purposes.

Each weekday, SPACE.com looks back at the history of spaceflight through photos (archive).

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the U.S. government agency in charge of the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Founded in 1958, NASA is a civilian space agency aimed at exploring the universe with space telescopes, satellites, robotic spacecraft, astronauts and more. The space agency has 10 major centers based across the U.S. and launches robotic and crewed missions from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida. Its astronaut corps is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. To follow NASA's latest mission, follow the space agency on Twitter or any other social channel, visit: nasa.gov.