The Day That Changed How We Navigate Forever
Forty-seven years ago, an Atlas rocket carried the first GPS satellite into orbit, launching a revolution in navigation that would transform daily life across the globe
Launch Date
April 9, 1969
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC41/1
Launch Vehicle
Voskhod 11A57
NORAD ID
03883
International Designator
1969-034A
Decay Date
4/17/1969
Name
COSMOS 278
Alternative Name
Kosmos-278
Type
Status
Owner
TSUKOS
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Apologies, there is no summary for this satellite yet. I am working to generate these for every object in the catalog, but it is going to take time.
Length
6.5
Diameter
2.4
Span
6.5
Dry Mass
2100
Launch Mass
2100
Shape
Sphere + DCone
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Zenit-2 No. 78L
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
TSKBE3
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Zenit-2
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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Forty-seven years ago, an Atlas rocket carried the first GPS satellite into orbit, launching a revolution in navigation that would transform daily life across the globe
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