The Day America Pioneered Polar Orbits
Sixty-six years ago, a Thor-Agena rocket thundered into the California sky carrying Discoverer 1, the first satellite attempt at polar orbit and the secret vanguard of Americas space reconnaissance program
Launch Date
November 20, 1998
Launch Site
Launch Pad
Pad 0A
Launch Vehicle
Antares 230
NORAD ID
44428
International Designator
1998-067QN
Decay Date
10/18/2021
Name
VCC A
Alternative Name
Aeternitas
Type
Status
Owner
ODU
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Length
0.1
Diameter
0.1
Span
0.3
Dry Mass
1
Launch Mass
1.21
Shape
Box+sail
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
VCC A
Purpose
Technology
Mission
Technology
Manufacturer
ODU
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Cubesat 1U
Configuration
CubeSat (1U)
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Solar cells, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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Sixty-six years ago, a Thor-Agena rocket thundered into the California sky carrying Discoverer 1, the first satellite attempt at polar orbit and the secret vanguard of Americas space reconnaissance program
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