🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
NASA S-1A
Retired 1961NASA S-1A (NORAD 22, COSPAR 1959 IOT 1) is a retired US satellite, withdrawn from service around 1 Feb 1961, launched on 13 Oct 1959. It was operated by GSFC as part of the ExplorerG programme. The spacecraft was built by ABMA on the S-1 bus, with a mass of 41 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.
1959
launched
1961
retired
67
years on orbit
41
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched13 Oct 1959
Operational1 Feb 1961 · entered service
Retired1 Feb 1961 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID22
COSPAR1959 IOT 1
TypeSatellite
OperatorGSFC
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerABMA
BusS-1
Mass41 kg
ProgrammeExplorerG
CategorySCI
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude560 × 1,087 km
Inclination50.3°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to NASA S-1A?
NASA S-1A was retired from service around 1 Feb 1961 after launching in 1959. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
Who operated and built NASA S-1A?
NASA S-1A was operated by GSFC and built by ABMA (US).
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.