Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
17:50:00
Saturday September 2, 1972
The Transit system, also known as NAVSAT or NNSS (for Navy Navigation Satellite System), was the first satellite navigation system to be used operationally. The system was primarily used by the U.S. Navy to provide accurate location information to its Polaris ballistic missile submarines, and it was also used as a navigation system by the Navy's surface ships, as well as for hydrographic survey and geodetic surveying. Transit provided continuous navigation satellite service from 1964, initially for Polaris submarines and later for civilian use as well.
Low Earth Orbit
1 Payload
54 kilograms
62nd
Mission
2nd
Mission of 1972
74th
Orbital launch attempt