United States Air ForceAtlas LV-3 Agena BSpace Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Samos 2
Launched
January 31, 1961
Image: NASA
Summary
Samos 2 launched on an United States Air Force Atlas LV-3 Agena B from Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on January 31, 1961. It was United States Air Force's 39th launch, 1st this year and humanity's 94th orbital launch attempt. It was the 1st Atlas LV-3 Agena B flight. The payload was bound for Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Atlas LV-3 Agena B · United States Air Force
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)
- Milestone
- 1st Atlas LV-3 Agena B flightUnited States Air Force's 39th launch1st this yearhumanity's 94th orbital launch attempt1st orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Samos 2 was a first-generation US Air Force Samos-E1 reconnaissance satellite that scanned its film on board and radioed the images to the ground rather than returning a capsule. It reached a near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit and operated for roughly a month, though the pictures it sent back were of poor quality.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
2nd launch from Space Launch Complex 3W, 1st this year · 21st from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
81 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
111 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Samos 2 launch?
Samos 2 launched on January 31, 1961. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Samos 2?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Samos 2?
Atlas LV-3 Agena B, flown by United States Air Force. Atlas LV-3 Agena B spec sheet
Where did Samos 2 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was Samos 2 going to?
Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO), a government/top secret mission.