Transit 5BN-3 with Transit 5E-2, a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered navigation satellite (SNAP-9A RTG) launched on a Thor Ablestar from Vandenberg; guidance errors left the upper stage short of orbit, and reentry dispersed about 1 kg of plutonium-238 into the upper atmosphere.
- Outcome
- Failure
- Orbit
- PO
- Polar orbit
- Payload to orbit
- Did not reach orbit
- Flight
- 14th
- of 19 Thor DM-21 Ablestar flights
- Date and time
- 21 April 1964, 18:50 UTC
- Rocket
- Thor DM-21 Ablestar
- Builder
- McDonnell Douglas
- Launch site
- Space Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Payload
- Navigation
- Launches in 1964
- 25th of 100