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Transit 2A, 2B

Transit 2A [US Navy]

The two Transit program objectives were

  • to develop and demonstrate equipment to provide a reliable means of fixing the position of surface craft, submarines, and aircraft--anywhere and in any weather--more precisely, and
  • to provide more accurate maritime and aerial navigation in any weather than currently available.

The Transit 2A spacecraft had as its instrument complement the following: cosmic-noise radiometer, transmitters, infrared scanner to measure satellite rotation before despin was initiated, and temperature sensors. The power supply was a nickel-cadmium battery, recharged by solar cells. The transmitters operated at the following frequencies: 54, 162, 216, and 324 MHz.

Additional scientific payloads were:

  • Infrared Scanner
  • Cosmic Noise Receiver
  • Ionospheric Beacon
Nation: USA
Type / Application: Navigation
Operator: USN
Contractors: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
Equipment: ?
Configuration: Sphere
Propulsion: None
Power: Solar cells (body mounted), batteries
Lifetime:
Mass: 101 kg
Orbit: 628 km × 1047 km, 66.69°
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Transit 2A 1960 η 1 22.06.1960 CC LC-17B Thor-DM21 Able-Star with Solrad 1
Transit 2B - not launched

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