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United States Air ForceThor DM-21 AblestarSpace Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Transit 3B & LOFTI-1
Launched
February 22, 1961
Summary
Transit 3B / LOFTI-1 launched on an United States Air Force Thor DM-21 Ablestar from Space Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on February 22, 1961. The mission was a partial failure: Failed to seperate from upper stage, failed to place into correct orbit. It was United States Air Force's 42nd launch, 4th this year and humanity's 100th orbital launch attempt. It was the 6th Thor DM-21 Ablestar flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO).
- Result
- Failed to seperate from upper stage, failed to place into correct orbit.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Thor DM-21 Ablestar · United States Air Force
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Navigation · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 6th Thor DM-21 Ablestar flight · 1st this yearUnited States Air Force's 42nd launch4th this yearhumanity's 100th orbital launch attempt7th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Transit 3B was a US Navy prototype navigation satellite launched together with the Naval Research Laboratory's LOFTI-1, which tested very-low-frequency radio propagation through the ionosphere for submarine communication. The Ablestar stage placed them in a more eccentric orbit than planned and they failed to separate from it, so both reentered within weeks.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
6th launch from Space Launch Complex 17B, 1st this year · 53rd from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
132 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
83 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Transit 3B / LOFTI-1 launch?
Transit 3B / LOFTI-1 launched on February 22, 1961. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Why was Transit 3B / LOFTI-1 a partial failure?
Failed to seperate from upper stage, failed to place into correct orbit.
Where can I watch Transit 3B / LOFTI-1?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Transit 3B / LOFTI-1?
Thor DM-21 Ablestar, flown by United States Air Force. Thor DM-21 Ablestar spec sheet
Where did Transit 3B / LOFTI-1 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.
What orbit was Transit 3B / LOFTI-1 going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a navigation mission.