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United States Air ForceThor DM-21 AblestarSpace Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Transit 4B & TRAAC
Launched
November 15, 1961
Summary
Transit 4B / TRAAC launched on an United States Air Force Thor DM-21 Ablestar from Space Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on November 15, 1961. It was United States Air Force's 66th launch, 28th this year and humanity's 135th orbital launch attempt. It was the 8th Thor DM-21 Ablestar flight and the 3rd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO).
- 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
- 8th Thor DM-21 Ablestar flight · 3rd this yearUnited States Air Force's 66th launch28th this yearhumanity's 135th orbital launch attempt42nd orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Transit 4B was a US Navy navigation satellite powered in part by a SNAP-3 radioisotope generator. It was launched with TRAAC, an APL satellite testing gravity-gradient stabilisation for future Transit spacecraft; both were later damaged by radiation from the 1962 Starfish Prime nuclear test.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
8th launch from Space Launch Complex 17B, 3rd this year · 70th from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
132 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
139 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Transit 4B / TRAAC launch?
Transit 4B / TRAAC launched on November 15, 1961. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Transit 4B / TRAAC?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Transit 4B / TRAAC?
Thor DM-21 Ablestar, flown by United States Air Force. Thor DM-21 Ablestar spec sheet
Where did Transit 4B / TRAAC launch from?
Space Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.
What orbit was Transit 4B / TRAAC going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a navigation mission.