GAMBIT 4

1963-51A

The fourth KH-7, SV 954, was launched on 1963 Dec 18 by Atlas Agena D from Point Arguello. The Agena 4802 upper stage was not separately tracked, but is believed to have separated after launch. The first use of a 4800 series Agena may indicate an operational variant. The orbit perigee was 30 km lower than targeted. The spacecraft remained in orbit for only 31 hours.


Program 206 SV 954 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1963 Dec 18  2145:30  Launch by Atlas Agena D   NMFPA 
 2147:48   BECO T+2:18 
 2150:02   SECO T+4:32 
 2150:16   VECO T+4:46 
 2150:20   Atlas sep T+4:50 
 2151:37   Agena burn T+6:07 
 2155:38   Agena MECO T+10:08   88.33 138 x 280 x 97.88 (VCR) 
1963 Dec 18  2200?  OCV sep from Agena D 
1963 Dec 18    Agena D reentered? 
1963 Dec 19   0230   88.48 122 x 266 x 97.89 (RAE)  
  0309   88.47 126 x 271 x 97.90 (TLE) 
1963 Dec 20   0018?  SRV sep? 
1963 Dec 20   0030?  RV recovered on rev 18 
1963 Dec 20   0405?   Reentered after 1.28d 

Payload: