Ferret 1

USAF surveillance satellite. Ferret 1 was launched on February 21, 1962 aboard a Thor Agena B from Vandenberg. Latest status in GCAT: reentered attached to another object (Mar 9, 1962).

COSPAR 1962 DELNORAD 242United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: FTV 2301
Common name: Ferret 1
Payload designation: Project 102 Group 0-D
Other names: NRO Mission 7151,SAMOS F-1 No. 3:P
International designator: 1962 DEL
NORAD catalog number: 242
GCAT identifier: S00242
UN registration: A/AC.105/INF.003

Mission

Mission type: Signals intelligence
Use: Defense
Program: SAMOS F-1
Owner: NRO
Country: United States
Builder: Lockheed Missiles and Space Co.
Platform (bus): SAMOS F-1

Launch

Date: February 21, 1962 · 18:44 UTC
Launch record: 1962 DELSuccess
Rocket: Thor Agena B
Spaceport: Vandenberg · pad 75-3-5

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): LLEO/I
Perigee: 169 km
Apogee: 220 km
Inclination: 81.94°
Status: Reentered attached to another object
Status date: March 9, 1962
Last known active: Feb 27, 1962
End of operations: Feb 27, 1962

Size

Mass: 289 kg
Dry mass: 289 kg
Total mass with attached objects: 1,089 kg
Length: 4.0 m
Diameter: 1.50 m
Span: 4.0 m

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q9259168 (CC0).