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United States Air ForceThor Agena DSpace Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Poppy 4A & 4B

Launched

June 15, 1963

Launch Failure

Image: USAF

Summary

Poppy 4A & 4B launched on an United States Air Force Thor Agena D from Space Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on June 15, 1963. The mission failed. It was United States Air Force's 144th launch, 18th this year and humanity's 254th orbital launch attempt. It was the 12th Thor Agena D flight and the 4th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). 7 objects from this launch are catalogued, 6 of them payloads.

Watch
No webcast on record.
Vehicle
Thor Agena D · United States Air Force
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Milestone
12th Thor Agena D flight · 4th this yearUnited States Air Force's 144th launch18th this yearhumanity's 254th orbital launch attempt30th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Catalogued objects

7 catalogued: 6 payloads, 1 debris; none still in orbit

  • WILD BILL 4 · NORAD 593 · re-entered August 7, 1963
  • SURCAL 3 · NORAD 597 · re-entered July 5, 1963
  • NRL PL112 · NORAD 598 · re-entered July 27, 1963
  • SR VI · NORAD 599 · re-entered August 1, 1963
  • NRL PL130 · NORAD 600 · re-entered July 30, 1963
  • Lofti IIB · NORAD 601 · re-entered July 18, 1963

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

Poppy was the follow-on ELINT system, which succeeded the Grab ELINT satellite system.

Pad

Map of Space Launch Complex 2E

Space Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

11th launch from Space Launch Complex 2E, 3rd this year · 96th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

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

49 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAOpen in maps

Questions

When did Poppy 4A & 4B launch?

Poppy 4A & 4B launched on June 15, 1963. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch Poppy 4A & 4B?

No webcast is on record for this launch.

What rocket launched Poppy 4A & 4B?

Thor Agena D, flown by United States Air Force. Thor Agena D spec sheet

Where did Poppy 4A & 4B launch from?

Space Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.

What orbit was Poppy 4A & 4B going to?

Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a government/top secret mission.

How many satellites did Poppy 4A & 4B launch?

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