United States Air ForceAtlas LV-3 Agena BSpace Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Samos 4
Launched
November 22, 1961
Image: NASA
Summary
Samos 4 launched on an United States Air Force Atlas LV-3 Agena B from Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on November 22, 1961. The mission failed: Failed to reach orbit. It was United States Air Force's 68th launch, 30th this year and humanity's 137th orbital launch attempt. It was the 7th Atlas LV-3 Agena B flight. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO).
- Result
- Failed to reach orbit
- 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 · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 7th Atlas LV-3 Agena B flightUnited States Air Force's 68th launch30th this yearhumanity's 137th orbital launch attempt44th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Samos 4 was the first US Air Force Program 101B (Samos-E5) film-return reconnaissance satellite and the first fully classified Defense Department space launch. A guidance malfunction in the Atlas at about T+245 seconds sent the vehicle into the Pacific instead of orbit.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
4th launch from Space Launch Complex 3W, 3rd this year · 41st from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
81 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
74 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Samos 4 launch?
Samos 4 launched on November 22, 1961. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Why did Samos 4 fail?
Failed to reach orbit.
Where can I watch Samos 4?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Samos 4?
Atlas LV-3 Agena B, flown by United States Air Force. Atlas LV-3 Agena B spec sheet
Where did Samos 4 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was Samos 4 going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a government/top secret mission.