Status
Success
OPS 0180
Launch Time
Wed Jan 16, 1963 21:59 UTC
Wed Jan 16, 1963 21:59 UTC
Rocket
Mission Details
OPS 0180
The ELINT/SIGINT satellites known for decades only as "Heavy Ferrets" are now known to be a program originally associated with the Samos (Satellite and Missile Observation System) project. This first series of Heavy Ferrets was called Program 102 and later Program 698BK. These satellites were designed to detect, map and investigate SAM and ABM radars.
Location
SLC-1E (75-3-5), Vandenberg SFB, California, USA
Stats
1963
3rd orbital launch attempt
Thor-Agena
64th mission
2nd mission of 1963
48th successful mission
26th consecutive successful mission