Other Satellites
There were 37 other satellites in the Transit series that were assigned the Transit name by NASA.
Transit 4A, launched June 29, 1961, was the first satellite to use a radioactive power source (a SNAP-3).
Transit 4B (1961) also had a SNAP-3 RTG. It was notable for sustaining damage in a nuclear explosion, specifically the United States Starfish Prime high-altitude nuclear test in 1962.
Transit 5A3 (1963) had a SNAP-3 RTG.
Transit 5B-1 (1963) had a SNAP-3 RTG.
Transit 5B-2 (1963) had a SNAP-9A RTG.
Transit-9 and 5B4 (1964) both had "a nuclear power source".
Transit-5B7 and 5B6 (1965) both had "a nuclear power source".
The US Air Force also periodically launched short lived satellites equipped with radio beacons of 162 MHz and 324 MHz at much lower orbits to study orbital drag. The Transit ground tracking stations tracked these satellites as well, locating the satellites within their orbits using the same principles. The satellite location data was used to collect orbital drag data, including variations in the upper atmosphere and the Earth's gravitational field.
Read more about this topic: Transit (satellite)
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