# Ferret 4
**Wikidata**: [Q9259176](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9259176)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ferret-4

## Summary  
Ferret 4 is a United States reconnaissance satellite that was launched on 28 February 1964 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 aboard a Thor‑Agena D launch vehicle. It was assigned the COSPAR identifier 1964‑011A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00759.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 28 February 1964【source】  
- **Launch site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, California【source】  
- **Launch vehicle:** Thor‑Agena D orbital launch vehicle【source】  
- **Mission type:** Reconnaissance satellite (collects covert intelligence data)【source】  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1964‑011A【source】  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 00759【source】  
- **Significant event:** Rocket launch at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 on 28 Feb 1964【source】  
- **Related class:** Part of the broader “reconnaissance satellite” class used for intelligence and military applications【source】  
- **Wikipedia language availability:** Polish (pl)【source】

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Ferret 4 launched?  
**A:** Ferret 4 was launched on 28 February 1964.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Ferret 4?  
**A:** Ferret 4 was designed as a reconnaissance satellite, meaning it covertly collected data for intelligence or military use.  

### Q: Which launch vehicle carried Ferret 4 into orbit?  
**A:** The satellite was launched aboard a Thor‑Agena D rocket.  

## Why It Matters  
Ferret 4 represents an early example of U.S. space‑based intelligence gathering during the Cold War era. By placing a reconnaissance platform in orbit, the United States could obtain imagery and signals data from locations that were otherwise inaccessible, enhancing strategic awareness and decision‑making. The mission’s use of the Thor‑Agena D launch system and Vandenberg’s polar launch capability demonstrated the growing reliability of American launch infrastructure for classified payloads. As part of the broader reconnaissance satellite program, Ferret 4 contributed to the evolution of satellite surveillance technology, laying groundwork for later, more sophisticated systems that continue to underpin modern national security and defense operations.  

## Notable For  
- First‑generation U.S. reconnaissance satellite launched in 1964.  
- Utilized the Thor‑Agena D launch vehicle, a workhorse of early American military space missions.  
- Assigned the COSPAR ID 1964‑011A, marking its place in the international satellite registry.  
- Catalogued as Satellite Catalog Number 00759, a unique identifier used by tracking agencies.  
- Launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, a key site for polar‑orbiting missions.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Ferret 4 is classified as a **reconnaissance satellite**, a type of spacecraft that covertly gathers intelligence data for military or governmental use. Its primary function was to collect imagery, electronic, or other sensor data from orbit.

### Launch Details  
- **Date:** 28 February 1964.  
- **Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1, a launch pad specialized for polar and sun‑synchronous orbits.  
- **Vehicle:** Thor‑Agena D, an American orbital launch vehicle used extensively for classified payloads during the 1960s.  

### Technical Identifiers  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1964‑011A – the international designation assigned to the satellite upon launch.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 00759 – the tracking number used by space surveillance networks.  

### Classification & Role  
- **Instance of:** Reconnaissance satellite (per Wikidata).  
- **Related class:** Part of the broader “reconnaissance satellite” category, which includes all satellites tasked with covert data collection for intelligence or military purposes.  

### Significant Event  
The launch itself is recorded as a **significant event**: a rocket launch at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1 on the same day as the launch (28 Feb 1964). This event marks Ferret 4’s entry into orbit and its operational commencement.  

### Historical Context  
Ferret 4’s launch occurred during a period of rapid expansion in space‑based surveillance capabilities. The use of the Thor‑Agena D vehicle and Vandenberg’s polar launch facilities reflected the United States’ strategic emphasis on obtaining global coverage for intelligence gathering, a capability that would become a cornerstone of modern defense and security operations.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report