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Solrad 11A

Retired 1977

Solrad 11A (NORAD 8748, COSPAR 1976-023C) is a retired US satellite, withdrawn from service around 12 Jun 1977, launched on 15 Mar 1976 on the LES 8 mission. It was operated by NRL as part of the Solrad programme. The spacecraft was built by NRL on the SR 11 bus, with a mass of 171 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.

1976
launched
1977
retired
50
years on orbit
171
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched15 Mar 1976 · on the LES 8 mission
Operational12 Jun 1977 · entered service
Retired12 Jun 1977 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)

Specifications

NORAD ID8748
COSPAR1976-023C
TypeSatellite
OperatorNRL
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerNRL
BusSR 11
Mass171 kg
ProgrammeSolrad
CategoryAST
Orbit (VHEO)
Altitude118,383 × 119,180 km
Inclination25.7°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Solrad 11A?

Solrad 11A was retired from service around 12 Jun 1977 after launching in 1976. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.

Who operated and built Solrad 11A?

Solrad 11A was operated by NRL and built by NRL (US).

Launched together

LES 8NORAD 8746LES 9NORAD 8747Solrad 11BNORAD 8749
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.