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United States Air ForceThorad SLV-2G Agena DSpace Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

KH-4A 49

Launched

December 12, 1968

Launch Successful

Image: NASA

Summary

KH-4A 49 launched on an United States Air Force Thorad SLV-2G Agena D from Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on December 12, 1968. It was United States Air Force's 472nd launch, 39th this year and humanity's 912th orbital launch attempt. It was the 18th Thorad SLV-2G Agena D flight and the 10th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). OPS 4740, one of 4 catalogued objects, reached a 166 × 256 km orbit inclined 81.1°. 4 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 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
18th Thorad SLV-2G Agena D flight · 10th this yearUnited States Air Force's 472nd launch39th this yearhumanity's 912th orbital launch attempt124th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

81.1°Inclination
166 × 256 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
88.6 minPeriodfrom mean elements
123.8°Ascending node
21126 d agoElement epoch1968-12-13 02:16 UTC · stale

OPS 4740 · NORAD 3604 · 1968-112 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 4 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID
1968-112A
Epoch
1968-12-13 02:16:52 UTC
Mean motion
16.25716906 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.0068358
Inclination
81.071°
Ascending node
123.8216°
Arg. of perigee
192.2718°
Mean anomaly
167.6785°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
3
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

4 catalogued: 2 payloads, 2 components; 3 still in orbit

  • OPS 4740 · NORAD 3604 · re-entered December 28, 1968
  • OPS 7684 · NORAD 3605 · in orbit

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 3W

Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

32nd launch from Space Launch Complex 3W, 4th this year · 316th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

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

39 days after the previous launch from this pad

Questions

When did KH-4A 49 launch?

KH-4A 49 launched on December 12, 1968. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch KH-4A 49?

No webcast is on record for this launch.

What rocket launched KH-4A 49?

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

Where did KH-4A 49 launch from?

Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.

What orbit did KH-4A 49 reach?

OPS 4740, one of 4 catalogued objects, reached a 166 × 256 km orbit inclined 81.1°.

How many satellites did KH-4A 49 launch?

2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 1 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).