Subscribe with SteadySolrad Model
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solrad Model | 1960 γ 3 | 13.04.1960 | CC LC-17B | Thor-DM21 Able-Star | with Transit 1B |
Launch Sites:
- CC = Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Eastern Test Range, Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA
