Transit 5BN-2, the first fully operational U.S. Navy Transit navigation satellite (SNAP-9A nuclear-powered), with piggyback Transit 5E-3. Thor Ablestar from Vandenberg placed them in polar orbit on 5 December 1963; 5BN-2 served Navy surface and submarine units into late 1964.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- PO
- Polar orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 127 kg
- Flight
- 13th
- of 19 Thor DM-21 Ablestar flights
- Date and time
- 5 December 1963, 21:51 UTC
- Rocket
- Thor DM-21 Ablestar
- Builder
- McDonnell Douglas
- Launch site
- Space Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Payload
- Navigation
- International designator
- 1963-049
- Launches in 1963
- 63rd of 69
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
View satellites in Space Atlas