# Hitchhiker 1

> US Air Force satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q5900716](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5900716)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitchhiker_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hitchhiker-1

## Summary
Hitchhiker 1 was a United States Air Force reconnaissance satellite launched on June 27, 1963. Designed to covertly collect data for intelligence and military applications, it was deployed into orbit using a Thor-Agena D launch vehicle from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Reconnaissance satellite (defined as a satellite that covertly collects data for intelligence or military applications).
- **Operator:** US Air Force.
- **Launch Date:** June 27, 1963.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Thor-Agena D (American orbital launch vehicle).
- **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1963-025B.
- **SATCAT (SCN):** 00614.
- **Significant Event:** Rocket launch occurring on June 27, 1963, at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Hitchhiker 1?
A: Hitchhiker 1 was a reconnaissance satellite operated by the US Air Force. Its function was to covertly collect data for intelligence and military applications.

### Q: When and how was Hitchhiker 1 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on June 27, 1963. It was delivered to orbit by a Thor-Agena D rocket launching from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.

### Q: What are the unique identifiers for Hitchhiker 1?
A: The satellite is identified by the COSPAR ID 1963-025B and the SATCAT number (SCN) 00614. It also has a Google Knowledge Graph ID of /g/121jt6s0.

## Why It Matters
Hitchhiker 1 represents a specific mission within the United States Air Force's early space reconnaissance efforts during the Cold War. As an instance of a reconnaissance satellite, its significance lies in its contribution to the collection of intelligence data through orbital means, a capability that was rapidly evolving in the early 1960s. The mission utilized the Thor-Agena D, a prominent American orbital launch vehicle of the era, highlighting the technological standards of military space deployment at the time. Launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2, the mission is part of the broader history of the site, which serves as a primary launch location for military and polar orbit missions. The existence of multiple language entries for the satellite on Wikipedia (English, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese) indicates a level of international recognition or historical interest in this specific orbital asset.

## Notable For
- Being an early example of a US Air Force reconnaissance satellite designed for covert data collection.
- Launching aboard the Thor-Agena D, a workhorse American orbital launch vehicle.
- Being tracked under the COSPAR ID 1963-025B and SATCAT 00614.
- Launching from the Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2, a critical site for military space operations.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Classification
Hitchhiker 1 is classified as a reconnaissance satellite. According to operational definitions, this class of satellite is utilized to covertly collect data for intelligence or military applications. The entity is explicitly described as a "US Air Force satellite."

### Launch Details
The satellite's deployment is a significant event in its operational history.
- **Date:** The launch occurred on June 27, 1963.
- **Location:** The start point for the mission was Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.
- **Rocket:** The launch vehicle used was the Thor-Agena D.

### Technical Identifiers
Various cataloging systems track Hitchhiker 1:
- **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number):** 00614
- **COSPAR International Designator:** 1963-025B
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "00614"]
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/121jt6s0

### Related Entities
The satellite's operation is directly linked to two primary classes of hardware and function:
1.  **Thor-Agena D:** The specific American orbital launch vehicle used to propel the satellite.
2.  **Reconnaissance satellite:** The functional classification of the satellite itself.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report