# Ferret 3
**Wikidata**: [Q9259174](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9259174)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ferret-3

## Summary
Ferret 3 was a U.S. reconnaissance satellite launched in 1963 as part of a covert intelligence-gathering program. It was designed to collect data for military applications and was launched aboard a Thor-Agena B rocket from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** June 29, 1963  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1963-027A  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Thor-Agena B  
- **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1  
- **Class:** Reconnaissance satellite (intelligence/military data collection)  
- **Significant Event:** Rocket launch on June 29, 1963, at Vandenberg  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 00613  

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Ferret 3?  
A: Ferret 3 was a reconnaissance satellite designed to covertly collect intelligence or military data for the United States.  

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Ferret 3?  
A: Ferret 3 was launched aboard a Thor-Agena B orbital launch vehicle.  

### Q: Where was Ferret 3 launched from?  
A: It was launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 in California.  

## Why It Matters  
Ferret 3 was part of a critical Cold War-era effort to enhance U.S. intelligence capabilities through space-based reconnaissance. These satellites provided strategic advantages by monitoring adversarial activities without direct confrontation. The success of such missions laid the groundwork for modern satellite surveillance systems, which remain vital for national security. Ferret 3's launch also demonstrated the reliability of the Thor-Agena B rocket for military payloads, contributing to advancements in space launch technology.  

## Notable For  
- One of the early U.S. reconnaissance satellites during the Cold War.  
- Launched from Vandenberg, a key site for military and polar-orbiting missions.  
- Utilized the Thor-Agena B, a workhorse launch vehicle for intelligence satellites.  

## Body  
### Launch and Mission  
- Ferret 3 was launched on **June 29, 1963**, as part of a classified U.S. military program.  
- Its primary role was **electronic intelligence (ELINT) or signals intelligence (SIGINT)** collection.  

### Technical Details  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Thor-Agena B, a two-stage rocket commonly used for reconnaissance satellites.  
- **Orbit:** Likely low Earth orbit (exact parameters classified).  

### Historical Context  
- Ferret satellites were predecessors to more advanced systems like the **NRO's modern reconnaissance constellations**.  
- The program underscored the growing importance of **space-based surveillance** in Cold War strategy.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report