Name: Transit 1A — Thor Able II
Start: 1959-09-17T14:34:00Z
End: 1959-09-17T14:34:00Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 17A

Question 1

What rocket is launching Transit 1A?

Accepted Answer

Transit 1A is launching on the Thor Able II.

Question 2

Who is launching Transit 1A?

Accepted Answer

Transit 1A is being launched by United States Air Force, a government launch provider founded in 1947.

Question 3

Where is Transit 1A launching from?

Accepted Answer

Transit 1A is launching from Space Launch Complex 17A at Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.

Question 4

What orbit is Transit 1A heading to?

Accepted Answer

Transit 1A is heading to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Question 5

Is the Thor Able II reusable?

Accepted Answer

No — the Thor Able II is an expendable launch vehicle.

Question 6

How many times has the Thor Able II flown?

Accepted Answer

The Thor Able II has launched 2 times to date, with 1 successful flights.

Question 7

What is the Transit 1A mission?

Accepted Answer

The Transit satellite system was the first satellite navigation system to be used operationally. The system was used to provide accurate location for the US Navy ships. Transit 1A failed to make orbit.

Question 8

Where is Cape Canaveral Space Force Station?

Accepted Answer

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station sits on Florida's Atlantic coast, on the Eastern Range run by the U.S. Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45. It is the United States' busiest launch site and has been America's gateway to orbit since the 1950s.

Question 9

Which rockets launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

SpaceX flies Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40, and United Launch Alliance flies the Vulcan Centaur (and the retiring Atlas V) from Space Launch Complex 41.

Question 10

Is Cape Canaveral the same as the Kennedy Space Center?

Accepted Answer

No. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center are separate, neighbouring sites — Kennedy is on Merritt Island just to the north. Together they make up Florida's 'Space Coast'.

Question 11

Why do rockets launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

Its pads sit on the Eastern Range, letting rockets fly east out over the Atlantic toward the equatorial and geostationary orbits most commercial and national-security payloads need, away from populated land.

Question 12

Can you watch a launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Space Coast is one of the easiest places in the world to watch a launch from public land. Popular free spots include Playalinda Beach, Space View Park in Titusville, and Jetty Park at Port Canaveral.

Transit 1A

Overview

Mission details

Launch Window

Space Launch Complex 17A

Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Frequently asked questions