🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
D-1A
Retired 1972D-1A (NORAD 2016, COSPAR 1966-013A) is a retired F satellite, withdrawn from service around 23 Jan 1972, launched on 17 Feb 1966 on the Diapason D-1A mission. It was operated by CNES as part of the Diamant Geod programme. The spacecraft was built by CNES on the D-1 bus, with a mass of 19 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.
1966
launched
1972
retired
60
years on orbit
19
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched17 Feb 1966 · on the Diapason D-1A mission
Operational23 Jan 1972 · entered service
Retired23 Jan 1972 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID2016
COSPAR1966-013A
TypeSatellite
OperatorCNES
Country / StateF
ManufacturerCNES
BusD-1
Mass19 kg
ProgrammeDiamant Geod
CategoryGEOD
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude502 × 2,735 km
Inclination34.1°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to D-1A?
D-1A was retired from service around 23 Jan 1972 after launching in 1966. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
Who operated and built D-1A?
D-1A was operated by CNES and built by CNES (F).
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.