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United States Air ForceThorad SLV-2G Agena DSpace Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

KH-4A 48

Launched

September 18, 1968

Launch Successful

Image: NASA

Summary

KH-4A 48 launched on an United States Air Force Thorad SLV-2G Agena D from Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on September 18, 1968. It was United States Air Force's 461st launch, 28th this year and humanity's 876th orbital launch attempt. It was the 15th Thorad SLV-2G Agena D flight and the 7th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). OPS 0165, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 174 × 400 km orbit inclined 83.0°. 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, all of them payloads.

Watch
No webcast on record.
Vehicle
Thorad SLV-2G Agena D · United States Air Force
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Milestone
15th Thorad SLV-2G Agena D flight · 7th this yearUnited States Air Force's 461st launch28th this yearhumanity's 876th orbital launch attempt88th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

83.0°Inclination
174 × 400 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
90.1 minPeriodfrom mean elements
26.0°Ascending node
21211 d agoElement epoch1968-09-18 20:59 UTC · stale

OPS 0165 · NORAD 3408 · 1968-078 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID
1968-078A
Epoch
1968-09-18 20:59:37 UTC
Mean motion
15.98035742 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.017
Inclination
83°
Ascending node
26.0492°
Arg. of perigee
162.13°
Mean anomaly
198.4751°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
0
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Catalogued objects

2 catalogued: 2 payloads; none still in orbit

  • OPS 0165 · NORAD 3408 · re-entered October 8, 1968
  • VAMPAN I · NORAD 3409 · re-entered September 28, 1969

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

The KH-4A (Keyhole-4A) was the fifth optical reconnaissance satellite version in the Corona-program.

Pad

Map of Space Launch Complex 1E

Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

45th launch from Space Launch Complex 1E, 4th this year · 309th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

45 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

89 days after the previous launch from this pad

Questions

When did KH-4A 48 launch?

KH-4A 48 launched on September 18, 1968. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch KH-4A 48?

No webcast is on record for this launch.

What rocket launched KH-4A 48?

Thorad SLV-2G Agena D, flown by United States Air Force. Thorad SLV-2G Agena D spec sheet

Where did KH-4A 48 launch from?

Space Launch Complex 1E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.

What orbit did KH-4A 48 reach?

OPS 0165, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 174 × 400 km orbit inclined 83.0°.

How many satellites did KH-4A 48 launch?

2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, none of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).