Launch Date
November 15, 1961
Launch Site
Cape Canaveral LC-17B
Launch Pad
LC-17B
Launch Vehicle
Thor DM-21 Ablestar
NORAD ID
00205
International Designator
1961-031B
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 01:52:34 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
32.44°
Right Ascension
73.84°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
100.79°
Period
105.68 min
Mean Motion
13.63 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
TRAAC
Alternative Name
Transit Research and Attitude Control
Type
Status
Owner
Bureau of Naval Weapons (BUWEPS)
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
Launched on November 15, 1961, alongside Transit 4B. Ceased operation after approximately 270 days due to radiation damage from the Starfish Prime nuclear test.
1 00205U 61031B 26185.07817590 .00000053 00000-0 38927-4 0 9998
2 00205 32.4408 73.8407 0101619 100.7895 260.4183 13.62574898221379
Source: Celestrak
Length
1
Diameter
1.1
Span
10
Dry Mass
109
Launch Mass
109
Shape
Cylindrical with extended boom
Radar Cross Section
0.5519
Visual Magnitude
5.5
Color
Silver
Material Composition
Aluminum, beryllium copper
Payload
TRAAC
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
To test the feasibility of using gravity-gradient stabilization in Transit navigational satellites and to study the effects of space radiation.
Manufacturer
Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
Life Expectancy
Operated for approximately 270 days, providing valuable data on gravity-gradient stabilization and space radiation effects.
Bus
Transit 4
Configuration
Gravity-gradient stabilized satellite
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Particle detectors, solar attitude detectors, magnetometers, Doppler system
Power System
Solar cells charging nickel-cadmium batteries, generating approximately 16 watts.
ADCS
Gravity-gradient stabilization
Transmitter Frequency
54 MHz, 324 MHz
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