The Transit Research and Attitude Control (TRAAC)

satellite A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioiso ...

was launched by the U. S. Navy from Cape Canaveral along with

Transit 4B Transit may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Transit'' (1979 film), a 1979 Israeli film * ''Transit'' (2005 film), a film produced by MTV and Staying-Alive about four people in countries in the world * ''Transit'' (2006 film), a 2006 ...

on November 15, 1961.

Mission

The 109 kg satellite was used to test the feasibility of using

gravity-gradient stabilization Gravity-gradient stabilization (a.k.a. "tidal stabilization") is a method of stabilizing artificial satellites or space tethers in a fixed orientation using only the orbited body's mass distribution and gravitational field. The main advantage ove ...

Transit Transit may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Transit'' (1979 film), a 1979 Israeli film * ''Transit'' (2005 film), a film produced by MTV and Staying-Alive about four people in countries in the world * ''Transit'' (2006 film), a 2006 ...

navigational satellites. It provided information on the effects of

radiation In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or through a material medium. This includes: * ''electromagnetic radiation'', such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, vi ...

from

nuclear explosion A nuclear explosion is an explosion that occurs as a result of the rapid release of energy from a high-speed nuclear reaction. The driving reaction may be nuclear fission or nuclear fusion or a multi-stage cascading combination of the two, t ...

s in space, as it was one of several satellites whose detectors provided data for the

Starfish Prime Starfish Prime was a high-altitude nuclear test conducted by the United States, a joint effort of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the Defense Atomic Support Agency. It was launched from Johnston Atoll on July 9, 1962, and was the large ...

test; ultimately its solar cells were damaged by the radiation and it ceased operation. It was among several satellites which were inadvertently damaged or destroyed by the

high-altitude nuclear test on July 9, 1962 and subsequent radiation belt. It is expected to orbit for 800 years at an altitude of about .

Poem

The first poem to be launched into orbit about the Earth was inscribed on the instrument panel of TRAAC. Entitled ''Space Prober'' and written by Prof. Thomas G. Bergin of

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...

, it reads in part: :''And now 'tis man who dares assault the sky...'' :''And as we come to claim our promised place, aim only to repay the good you gave,'' :''And warm with human love the chill of space.''

References

Satellites orbiting Earth Spacecraft launched in 1961 {{US-spacecraft-stub