Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

09:07:00

Tuesday October 5, 1965

Mission Details

OV1-2

Wiki

Orbiting Vehicle 1-2 (also known as OV1-2), launched 5 October 1965, was the third, and first successful, satellite in the OV1 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. A radiation-measuring satellite designed to conduct research for the planned Manned Orbital Laboratory project, OV1-2 was the first American spacecraft to be placed into orbit on a western (retrograde to Earth's rotation) trajectory. The satellite stopped functioning in April 1967 after a series of technical problems starting two months after launch.

Medium Earth Orbit

1 Payload

86 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Atlas-D OV1

Active 1965 to 1967


Liftoff Thrust

1,880 Kilonewtons

Stages

2

Launch Site

LC-576B3

Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Fastest Turnaround

105 days 16 hours

Stats

Atlas-OV1


3rd

Mission

3rd

Mission of 1965

1965


88th

Orbital launch attempt