Mission type | Earth science |
---|---|
Operator | USAF |
COSPAR ID | 1966-099C |
SATCAT no. | S02527 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | General Dynamics |
Launch mass | 202 kg (445 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 2 Nov 1966 13:50:42 | UTC
Rocket | Titan IIIC |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 |
Orbital parameters | |
Regime | Low Earth Orbit |
Eccentricity | 0.00038 |
Perigee altitude | 290.00 km (180.20 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 295.00 km (183.30 mi) |
Inclination | 32.800° |
Period | 90.40 minutes [1] |
Epoch | 1966-02-11 13:55:00 UTC |
Orbiting Vehicle 1-6 (also known as OV1-6 and OV1-6S[2]) was launched via Titan IIIC rocket into orbit 2 November 1966 along with two other satellites in the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle series on the first and only Manned Orbiting Laboratory test flight. The eighth satellite in the OV1 series to be launched, OV1-6 was designed to release a number of inflatable spheres, which would then be used in classified tracking experiments conducted on the ground. It is uncertain whether or not the satellite successfully released any of its spheres. OV1-6 reentered the Earth's atmosphere on 31 December 1966.