Biosatellite 1

Biosatellite 1

Biosatellite 1 being prepared by scientists of the mission.
Mission type	Bioscience
Operator	NASA / ARC
COSPAR ID	1966-114A
SATCAT no.	2632[1]
Mission duration	30 days
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	General Electric
Launch mass	950 kg (2,090 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	14 December 1966, 19:20 (1966-12-14UTC19:20Z) UTC
Rocket	Delta G 471/D43
Launch site	Cape Canaveral LC-17A
End of mission
Landing date	15 February 1967 (1967-02-16)[2]
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Eccentricity	0.00105[1]
Perigee altitude	295 kilometers (183 mi)[1]
Apogee altitude	309 kilometers (192 mi)[1]
Inclination	33.5º[1]
Period	90.5 minutes[1]
Epoch	14 December 1966[1]

Biosatellite 1, also known as Biosat 1 and Biosatellite A, was the first mission in NASA's Biosatellite program. It was launched on December 14, 1966, by a Delta G rocket from Launch Complex 17A of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station^[3] into an orbit with a 296-kilometre (184 mi) perigee, 309-kilometre (192 mi) apogee, and 33.5 degrees of orbital inclination, with a period of 90.5 minutes.^[4]

Biosatellite 1 was carrying several specimens for studying the effects of the space environment on biological processes. Prior to reentry, the entry capsule separated from the satellite bus properly, but the deorbit motor failed to ignite, leaving it stranded in a slowly decaying orbit. It re-entered and disintegrated on February 15, 1967.