# Ferret 8
**Wikidata**: [Q28697229](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28697229)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ferret-8

## Summary
Ferret 8 is a reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966 to covertly collect intelligence data for military applications. It was part of a series of U.S. spy satellites and was launched aboard a Thor-Agena D rocket. Its mission was to gather strategic information during the Cold War era.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: February 9, 1966  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1966-009A  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Thor-Agena D  
- **Class**: Reconnaissance satellite (intelligence/military data collection)  
- **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number)**: 01997  
- **Significant Event**: Rocket launch on 1966-02-09  
- **Wikipedia Language Coverage**: Polish (pl)  
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: `/g/11c2p8d2zq`  
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code**: `Entity["Satellite", "01997"]`  

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Ferret 8?  
A: Ferret 8 was designed to covertly collect intelligence data for military or strategic applications, likely during the Cold War.  

### Q: What rocket launched Ferret 8?  
A: It was launched aboard a Thor-Agena D, an American orbital launch vehicle.  

### Q: Is there public information about Ferret 8's operations?  
A: Due to its classified nature, detailed operational data is limited, but its existence and launch details are documented in open sources.  

## Why It Matters  
Ferret 8 represents a critical component of Cold War-era intelligence-gathering efforts by the United States. As a reconnaissance satellite, it played a role in monitoring geopolitical threats and securing strategic advantages. Its launch reflects the technological and ideological competition between superpowers during this period. While specific mission details remain classified, such satellites were pivotal in shaping national security policies and space-based surveillance capabilities. Ferret 8's legacy lies in its contribution to the evolution of military reconnaissance, paving the way for modern satellite intelligence systems.  

## Notable For  
- **Early Cold War Reconnaissance**: Part of a classified U.S. satellite program during a high-tension geopolitical era.  
- **Thor-Agena D Launch**: One of the missions utilizing this specific launch vehicle.  
- **Limited Public Documentation**: Reflects the secrecy surrounding early spy satellite programs.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- Launched on **February 9, 1966**.  
- Used the **Thor-Agena D** rocket, a workhorse for U.S. military and intelligence payloads.  

### Classification and Purpose  
- **Instance of**: Reconnaissance satellite (focused on covert data collection).  
- Likely operated by the U.S. Air Force or intelligence agencies.  

### Technical Identifiers  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1966-009A (international designation).  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 01997.  

### Historical Context  
- Launched during the **Cold War**, a period marked by intense espionage and technological rivalry.  
- Part of a broader family of **Ferret satellites**, which specialized in signals intelligence (SIGINT).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report