# Biosatellite 1

> satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q26089](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26089)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosatellite_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/biosatellite-1

## Summary
Biosatellite 1 was a U.S. satellite designed to carry biological experiments in space. Launched on December 14, 1966, it was part of NASA's Biosatellite program to study the effects of spaceflight on living organisms. The mission ended with atmospheric reentry on February 15, 1967.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** December 14, 1966, at 19:20:03 UTC  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Delta G (serial number 471/D043)  
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17A  
- **Operator:** NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)  
- **Orbit:** Low Earth orbit  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1966-114A  
- **NSSDCA ID:** 1966-114A  
- **Mission Duration:** ~2 months (ended February 15, 1967)  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 02632  
- **Program:** Part of the Biosatellite program  

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Biosatellite 1?  
A: It was designed to carry biological experiments to study the effects of spaceflight on living organisms, such as plants and microorganisms.  

### Q: How long did Biosatellite 1 remain in orbit?  
A: It orbited Earth for approximately 2 months before reentering the atmosphere on February 15, 1967.  

### Q: What launch vehicle was used for Biosatellite 1?  
A: A Delta G rocket (serial number 471/D043) launched it from Cape Canaveral.  

## Why It Matters  
Biosatellite 1 was a pioneering mission in space biology, providing early data on how microgravity and radiation affect living organisms. Its experiments laid groundwork for future human spaceflight by addressing critical questions about biological survival in space. As part of NASA's broader Biosatellite program, it contributed to understanding long-term space travel risks, informing later missions like the Apollo program and the International Space Station. Though short-lived, its findings remain relevant to astrobiology and life-support systems research.  

## Notable For  
- **First U.S. Biosatellite:** Part of NASA's inaugural Biosatellite program.  
- **Early Space Biology Research:** Provided foundational data on organism behavior in microgravity.  
- **Delta G Launch Vehicle:** One of the early uses of this expendable rocket variant.  
- **Controlled Reentry:** Demonstrated controlled atmospheric reentry for biological payloads.  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
- Launched December 14, 1966, to study biological effects of spaceflight.  
- Carried experiments on plants, insects, and microorganisms.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Operator:** NASA  
- **Orbit:** Low Earth orbit (~300–400 km altitude).  
- **Decay Date:** February 15, 1967 (reentered Earth's atmosphere).  

### Launch Details  
- **Vehicle:** Delta G rocket (471/D043).  
- **Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17A.  

### Legacy  
- Data informed later biosatellite missions and human spaceflight safety protocols.  
- Cataloged under SCN 02632 and COSPAR 1966-114A for tracking.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=02632)