Transit Research and Attitude Control

Transit Research and Attitude Control (TRAAC)
Artist's impression of TRAAC in orbit
Mission typeTechnology
OperatorUnited States Navy
Harvard designation1961 Alpha Eta 2
COSPAR ID1961-031B
SATCAT no.205
Mission duration270 days
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass109 kilograms (240 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateNovember 15, 1961, 22:26 (1961-11-15UTC22:26Z) UTC
RocketThor DM-21 Ablestar
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-17B
End of mission
Last contactAugust 12, 1962 (1962-08-13)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Semi-major axis7,405.20 kilometers (4,601.38 mi)
Eccentricity0.0102037
Perigee altitude958 kilometers (595 mi)
Apogee altitude1,109 kilometers (689 mi)
Inclination32.44 degrees
Period105.8 minutes
EpochFebruary 7, 2014, 04:46:58 UTC

The Transit Research and Attitude Control (TRAAC) satellite was launched by the U. S. Navy from Cape Canaveral along with Transit 4B on November 15, 1961.