Transit 5A-1

 1962-071A

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VA-1 was the first operational prototype. It failed on the day of launch due to a problem with the command receiver. Mass was 59 kg. Octagon bus 0.45m dia 0.25m high with 5.5m span solar panels.

One newspaper report gave the time as 2126 UTC Dec 8 (1526 CST) and another gives 1726 PST (0126 UTC Dec 9). The Blue Scout Jr launch that day was 'later the same night' and 'within a few hours' thus probably between about 0300 UTC and 1400 UTC.

Transit VA-1
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1962 Dec 19	0125:45	Launch by Scout X-3	PA LC-D
		T+1:08? St 1 Algol burnout
		T+1:25? St 2 Castor burn
		T+2:07? St 2 burnout
		T+2:13? Fairing
		T+2:13? St 3 Antares burn
		T+2:45? St 3 burnout
		T+9:40? St 3 sep
		T+9:41? St 4 Altair burn
	0135?		698 x 725 x 90.62
1962 Dec 19		End of transmissions

Payload:

• Ultrastable oscillators, nav beacon Z 150/400 MHz