![Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D (Nimbus 3) [NASA]](/media?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthespacedevs-prod.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2Fthorad-slv2g_ag_image_20251102061406.jpg&w=1600)
United States Air ForceThorad SLV-2G Agena DSpace Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
KH-4A 51
Launched
May 2, 1969
Image: NASA
Summary
KH-4A 51 launched on an United States Air Force Thorad SLV-2G Agena D from Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on May 2, 1969. It was United States Air Force's 490th launch, 16th this year and humanity's 967th orbital launch attempt. It was the 22nd Thorad SLV-2G Agena D flight and the 4th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). OPS 1101, one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 178 × 337 km orbit inclined 65.0°. 3 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
- 22nd Thorad SLV-2G Agena D flight · 4th this yearUnited States Air Force's 490th launch16th this yearhumanity's 967th orbital launch attempt48th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
OPS 1101 · NORAD 3914 · 1969-041 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 3 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 1969-041A
- Epoch
- 1969-05-02 10:14:11 UTC
- Mean motion
- 16.08668222 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.011976
- Inclination
- 64.983°
- Ascending node
- 324.0161°
- Arg. of perigee
- 105.0572°
- Mean anomaly
- 256.3778°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 6
- 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
3 catalogued: 2 payloads, 1 component; none still in orbit
- OPS 1101 · NORAD 3914 · re-entered May 23, 1969
- LAMPAN II · NORAD 3915 · re-entered February 16, 1970
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
Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
35th launch from Space Launch Complex 3W, 3rd this year · 326th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
81 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
43 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did KH-4A 51 launch?
KH-4A 51 launched on May 2, 1969. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch KH-4A 51?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched KH-4A 51?
Thorad SLV-2G Agena D, flown by United States Air Force. Thorad SLV-2G Agena D spec sheet
Where did KH-4A 51 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit did KH-4A 51 reach?
OPS 1101, one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 178 × 337 km orbit inclined 65.0°.
How many satellites did KH-4A 51 launch?
2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, none of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).