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1963 · United States Air Force

Vela 1A & 1B

successAtlas Agena D | Vela 1A & 1B

The Vela (meaning "watchman" in Spanish) series of spacecraft were designed to monitor worldwide compliance with the 1963 nuclear test ban treaty.

Overview

Date / time
October 17, 1963 at 02:37 AM UTC
Outcome
success
Launch site
Space Launch Complex 13
Mission
Vela 1A & 1B
Mission type
Government/Top Secret
Orbit achieved
Elliptical Orbit
Launch vehicle
Atlas LV-3 Agena D →
Launch provider
United States Air Force →

Payloads deployed · 3

ERS 12
HEO
VELA 1
HEO
VELA 2
HEO