Solrad Model on top of Transit 1B [NRL]
The Solrad Model was a dummy version of the Solrad / Grab satellite. The purpose of this object was to test the dual launch with the Transit 1B satellite.
This satellite employed the same structure like the Solrad / Grab science and SIGINT satellite, but did not have any equipment on board.
The Solrad Model was successfully seperated from Transit 1B, making this mission the first dual satellite launch.
Nation: | USA |
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Type / Application: | Vehicle evaluation |
Operator: | Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) / US Navy |
Contractors: | Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) |
Equipment: | |
Configuration: | NRL 20in sphere |
Propulsion: | None |
Power: | None |
Lifetime: | |
Mass: | 18 kg ? |
Orbit: | 285 km × 663 km, 51.29° |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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Solrad Model | 1960 γ 3 | 13.04.1960 | CC LC-17B | Thor-DM21 Able-Star | with Transit 1B |