# Long Rod
**Wikidata**: [Q18327724](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18327724)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/long-rod

## Summary
Long Rod is a technology demonstration spacecraft launched on August 13, 1965, aboard a Thor-Ablestar rocket to test experimental technologies. It was deployed from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 and identified by COSPAR ID 1965-065G. The mission aimed to advance space technology through in-orbit experimentation.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: August 13, 1965
- **Launch Vehicle**: Thor-Ablestar (American expendable launch system)
- **Launch Site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2
- **COSPAR ID**: 1965-065G
- **Class**: Technology demonstration spacecraft
- **SCN**: 01515 (reference: Q6272367)
- **Alias**: NavSpaSurRod
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Available in Polish

## FAQs
### Q: When was Long Rod launched?
A: Long Rod was launched on August 13, 1965.

### Q: What was the purpose of the Long Rod mission?
A: The mission aimed to demonstrate and test experimental space technologies in orbit.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Long Rod?
A: Long Rod was launched using the Thor-Ablestar expendable launch system.

## Why It Matters
Long Rod played a role in the development of space technology by serving as a platform for testing experimental systems in orbit. As a technology demonstration spacecraft, it contributed to the advancement of engineering and scientific knowledge during the early space era. While specific mission outcomes are not detailed in the source material, its launch on a Thor-Ablestar rocket—a notable U.S. launch vehicle of the 1960s—highlights its integration into broader efforts to explore and innovate in space. The mission reflects the iterative process of space research, where specialized payloads like Long Rod help validate new concepts and tools, paving the way for future missions.

## Notable For
- **Technology Demonstration Focus**: Designed to test experimental space technologies.
- **Thor-Ablestar Launch**: Part of a series of missions using the Thor-Ablestar rocket, known for its reliability in the 1960s.
- **Documentation in Specialized Sources**: Recognized in space databases and Polish Wikipedia, underscoring its niche historical relevance.

## Body
### Launch Details
- **Date**: August 13, 1965
- **Site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2
- **Vehicle**: Thor-Ablestar (references: Q6272367)

### Spacecraft Specifications
- **COSPAR ID**: 1965-065G (references: Q84324943)
- **SCN**: 01515
- **Alias**: NavSpaSurRod
- **Image**: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Long-rod_1.jpg

### Mission Context
- **Classification**: Technology demonstration spacecraft (references: Q1551807)
- **Significant Event**: Rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 on August 13, 1965 (references: Q6272367)

### Documentation
- **Wikipedia Languages**: Polish
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/11b5v3fl38
- **Sitelink Count**: 1 (limited online presence)

## References

1. [Long Rod. Gunter's Space Page](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/long-rod.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report