Transit 5BN-1 with Transit 5E-1, a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered navigation satellite (SNAP-9A RTG) launched on a Thor Ablestar from Vandenberg; gravity-gradient capture left it upside-down, limiting nav utility, but geodetic data were collected.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- PO
- Polar orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 128 kg
- Flight
- 12th
- of 19 Thor DM-21 Ablestar flights
- Date and time
- 28 September 1963, 20:22 UTC
- Rocket
- Thor DM-21 Ablestar
- Builder
- McDonnell Douglas
- Launch site
- Space Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Payload
- Navigation
- International designator
- 1963-038
- Launches in 1963
- 49th of 69
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
View satellites in Space Atlas