Two of the ten experiments performed on the ionosphere direct measurements satellite (Explorer VIII) were designed to measure electron temperature. Although only a fraction of the temperature data has been processed, enough important conclusions can be drawn to warrant its publication at this time. The Explorer VIII electron temperature experiment used to obtain data presented in this report is a simple modification of the classic Langmuir probe in that two electrodes (a grid and a collector) are used instead of one. To our knowledge it represents the first space flight of this type of device in which the effects of positive ion and photocurrents are removed experimentally. This was suggested by E. C. Whipple, Jr., because of uncertainties in correcting for these unwanted currents when interpreting the classic Langmuir probe volt-ampere curve. A detailed description of the experiment together with an evaluation of the effects which the interaction of the spacecraft and the ionized atmosphere have on electron temperature determination are described elsewhere [Bourdeau, Donley, Serbu, and Whipple, 1961; Bourdeau, 1961].