The Day a Jupiter-Bound Spacecraft Traveled Past Venus
Thirty-five years ago, NASA's Galileo spacecraft made a crucial flyby of Venus, pioneering a complex path through the inner solar system that would revolutionize planetary exploration
Launch Date
January 22, 1965
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC17A
Launch Vehicle
Thor Delta C
NORAD ID
00979
International Designator
1965-004B
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 13:09:17 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
96.41°
Right Ascension
41.70°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
191.46°
Period
118.47 min
Mean Motion
12.16 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
DELTA 1 R/B
Alternative Name
Delta 28 Stage 3
Type
Status
Owner
GSFC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 00979U 65004B 26200.54811641 .00000001 00000+0 18648-4 0 9991
2 00979 96.4139 41.7016 1138538 191.4611 165.8380 12.15535369719491
Source: Celestrak
Length
1.5
Diameter
0.5
Span
1.5
Dry Mass
60
Launch Mass
60
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
0.469
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Altair 2 X-258C4 RH-79
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
ABL
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Altair
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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Thirty-five years ago, NASA's Galileo spacecraft made a crucial flyby of Venus, pioneering a complex path through the inner solar system that would revolutionize planetary exploration
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