🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
Transit 4A
Retired 1972Transit 4A (NORAD 116, COSPAR 1961 OMI 1) is a retired US satellite, withdrawn from service around 1 Jan 1972, launched on 29 Jun 1961. It was operated by BUWEPS as part of the Transit programme. The spacecraft was built by APL on the Transit 4 bus, with a mass of 78 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.
1961
launched
1972
retired
65
years on orbit
78
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched29 Jun 1961
Operational1 Jul 1962 · entered service
Retired1 Jan 1972 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID116
COSPAR1961 OMI 1
TypeSatellite
OperatorBUWEPS
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerAPL
BusTransit 4
Mass78 kg
ProgrammeTransit
CategoryNAV
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude880 × 997 km
Inclination66.8°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Transit 4A?
Transit 4A was retired from service around 1 Jan 1972 after launching in 1961. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
How long was Transit 4A operational?
Transit 4A was operational for roughly 10 years, from 1 Jul 1962 to 1 Jan 1972.
Who operated and built Transit 4A?
Transit 4A was operated by BUWEPS and built by APL (US).
Launched together
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.