Lunar Orbiter 1

First American robotic spacecraft to orbit the Moon. Lunar Orbiter 1 was launched on August 10, 1966 aboard a Atlas SLV-3 Agena D from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: left Earth orbit for deep space (Aug 11, 1966).

COSPAR 1966-073ANORAD 2394United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: Lunar Orbiter I
Common name: Lunar Orbiter 1
Payload designation: LO-A
Other names: LO SC4:P
International designator: 1966-073A
NORAD catalog number: 2394
GCAT identifier: S02394
UN registration: A/AC.105/INF.146

Mission

Mission type: Deep space
Use: Civil government
Program: LO
Owner: NASA LaRC
Country: United States
Builder: Boeing Space Center, Kent
Platform (bus): Lunar Orbiter

Launch

Date: August 10, 1966 · 19:26 UTC
Launch record: 1966-073Success
Rocket: Atlas SLV-3 Agena D
Spaceport: Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad LC13

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): CLO
Perigee: 196 km
Apogee: 345,551 km
Inclination: 29.61°
Status: Left Earth orbit for deep space
Status date: August 11, 1966
Last known active: Oct 29, 1966
End of operations: Oct 29, 1966

Size

Mass: 380 kg
Dry mass: 261 kg
Length: 2.1 m
Diameter: 2.00 m
Span: 5.3 m

Deep space

Deep-space catalog entry: D00119
Final central body: Luna
Phase start: August 14, 1966
Phase outcome: Entered orbit around the target · August 14, 1966
Destination: Luna

Flight phases

From	Central body	Ended	Outcome	Next
Aug 11, 1966	Earth	Aug 14, 1966	Escaped to another body	Luna
Aug 14, 1966	Luna	Oct 29, 1966	Deorbited	Luna

Landings and impacts

World	Type	Result	Touchdown	Site	Coordinates
Luna	Orbiter	Targeted impact	Oct 29, 1966	—	6.70, 162.00

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q932976 (CC0).