Transit Research and Attitude Control

Transit Research and Attitude Control (TRAAC)
Artist's impression of TRAAC in orbit
Mission typeTechnology
OperatorUnited States Navy
Harvard designation1961 Alpha Eta 2
COSPAR ID1961-031B Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.205
Mission duration270 days
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass109 kilograms (240 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateNovember 15, 1961, 22:26 (1961-11-15UTC22:26Z) UTC
RocketThor DM-21 Ablestar
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-17B
End of mission
Last contactAugust 12, 1962 (1962-08-13)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Semi-major axis7,405.20 kilometers (4,601.38 mi)
Eccentricity0.0102037
Perigee altitude958 kilometers (595 mi)
Apogee altitude1,109 kilometers (689 mi)
Inclination32.44 degrees
Period105.8 minutes
EpochFebruary 7, 2014, 04:46:58 UTC[1]

The Transit Research and Attitude Control (TRAAC) satellite was launched by the U. S. Navy from Cape Canaveral along with Transit 4B on November 15, 1961.

Drawing of Transit 4B and TRAAC satellite in orbit.
  1. ^ "TRAAC Satellite details 1961-031B NORAD 205". N2YO. February 7, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2014.