Vela 1A

Vela 1A
Vela 1A
OperatorUSAF
COSPAR ID1963-039A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.00674
Mission duration6 months (planned)
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerTRW
Launch mass150 kilograms (330 lb)
Power90 W
Start of mission
Launch dateOctober 17, 1963, 02:24 (1963-10-17UTC02:24Z)
RocketAtlas-LV3 Agena-D
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-13
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeHighly Elliptical
Perigee altitude101,081 kilometres (62,809 mi)
Apogee altitude116,582 kilometres (72,441 mi)
Inclination38.7°
Period6,486.2 minutes
EpochOctober 17, 1963 (1963-10-17)
← None
Vela 1B →

Vela 1A (or Vela 1) was a military satellite developed to detect nuclear detonations to monitor compliance with the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty by the Soviet Union.