![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-4B 3
Launched
May 1, 1968
Image: NASA
Summary
KH-4B 3 launched on an United States Air Force Thorad SLV-2G Agena D from Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on May 1, 1968. It was United States Air Force's 445th launch, 12th this year and humanity's 830th orbital launch attempt. It was the 11th Thorad SLV-2G Agena D flight and the 3rd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). The tracked orbit of OPS 1419, one of 2 catalogued objects, from May 16, 1968, was 160 × 262 km inclined 83.0°. 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- 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
- 11th Thorad SLV-2G Agena D flight · 3rd this yearUnited States Air Force's 445th launch12th this yearhumanity's 830th orbital launch attempt42nd orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
OPS 1419 · NORAD 3232 · 1968-039 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 1968-039B
- Epoch
- 1968-05-16 22:54:38 UTC
- Mean motion
- 16.25751296 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0077849
- Inclination
- 83.0195°
- Ascending node
- 231.547°
- Arg. of perigee
- 146.7677°
- Mean anomaly
- 213.8418°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 244
- B*
- 0
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO.
Catalogued objects
2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 component; none still in orbit
- OPS 1419 · NORAD 3232 · re-entered May 20, 1968
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
The KH-4B (Keyhole-4B) was sixth optical reconnaissance satellite version in the Corona-program.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
29th launch from Space Launch Complex 3W, 1st this year · 295th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
81 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
398 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did KH-4B 3 launch?
KH-4B 3 launched on May 1, 1968. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch KH-4B 3?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched KH-4B 3?
Thorad SLV-2G Agena D, flown by United States Air Force. Thorad SLV-2G Agena D spec sheet
Where did KH-4B 3 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit did KH-4B 3 reach?
The tracked orbit of OPS 1419, one of 2 catalogued objects, from May 16, 1968, was 160 × 262 km inclined 83.0°.
How many satellites did KH-4B 3 launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued, no longer in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).