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United States Air ForceThorad SLV-2G Agena DSpace Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Strawman 1

Launched

October 5, 1968

Launch Successful

Image: NASA

Summary

Strawman 1 launched on an United States Air Force Thorad SLV-2G Agena D from Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on October 5, 1968. It was United States Air Force's 464th launch, 31st this year and humanity's 885th orbital launch attempt. It was the 16th Thorad SLV-2G Agena D flight and the 8th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). It reached a 491 × 516 km orbit inclined 75.0°. One object from this launch is catalogued.

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
16th Thorad SLV-2G Agena D flight · 8th this yearUnited States Air Force's 464th launch31st this yearhumanity's 885th orbital launch attempt97th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

75.0°Inclination
491 × 516 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
94.5 minPeriodfrom mean elements
252.1°Ascending node
21193 d agoElement epoch1968-10-07 10:05 UTC · stale

OPS 0964 · NORAD 3472 · 1968-086 · Space-Track

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID
1968-086A
Epoch
1968-10-07 10:05:51 UTC
Mean motion
15.23225331 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.0018475
Inclination
74.9985°
Ascending node
252.1256°
Arg. of perigee
244.0239°
Mean anomaly
115.8948°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
30
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO.

Catalogued objects

1 catalogued: 1 payload; none still in orbit

  • OPS 0964 · NORAD 3472 · re-entered March 26, 1971

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

The Strawman series of ELINT/SIGINT satellites, known for decades only as "Heavy Ferrets", are the fourth variation of Agena-based ELINT satellites. These satellites were designed to detect, map and investigate SAM and ABM radars.

Pad

Map of Space Launch Complex 1W

Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

50th launch from Space Launch Complex 1W, 1st this year · 311th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

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

300 days after the previous launch from this pad

Questions

When did Strawman 1 launch?

Strawman 1 launched on October 5, 1968. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch Strawman 1?

No webcast is on record for this launch.

What rocket launched Strawman 1?

Thorad SLV-2G Agena D, flown by United States Air Force. Thorad SLV-2G Agena D spec sheet

Where did Strawman 1 launch from?

Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.

What orbit did Strawman 1 reach?

It reached a 491 × 516 km orbit inclined 75.0°.

How many satellites did Strawman 1 launch?

1 payload from this launch is catalogued, no longer in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).