Mission record
Thor DM-21 Ablestar | Transit 1B
Trajectory & orbital insertion
Ascent path is a representation — true ascent telemetry isn’t public.
Provider
United States Air Force
Provider type
Government
Orbit
PO
Mission type
Navigation
Launch site
United States of America
Date
Wed, 13 Apr 1960 12:02:36 GMT
Orbital launch #
#61 ever
Mission
The Transit 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.