# San Marco 1

> first Italian satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q2088633](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2088633)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Marco_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/san-marco-1

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **San Marco 1**:

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## Summary  
San Marco 1 was the first Italian artificial satellite, launched in 1964 as part of the San Marco satellite series. It was designed for scientific research and marked Italy's entry into space exploration. The satellite was launched aboard a Scout X-4 rocket from Wallops Flight Facility in the United States.

## Key Facts  
- **First Italian satellite**: Launched on December 15, 1964, making Italy the third country to operate its own satellite after the USSR and the US.  
- **Launch vehicle**: Scout X-4, an American rocket from the Scout family.  
- **Operator**: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (National Research Council of Italy).  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1964-084A, a unique identifier for space objects.  
- **Part of the San Marco series**: A group of five Italian satellites focused on scientific research.  
- **Launch site**: Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3 in Virginia, USA.  
- **Classification**: Research satellite and artificial satellite of the Earth.  
- **Aliases**: Also known as San Marco A or Сан-Марко-А.  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was San Marco 1 launched?  
A: San Marco 1 was launched on December 15, 1964, from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, USA.  

### Q: What was the purpose of San Marco 1?  
A: It was Italy's first satellite, designed for scientific research and to demonstrate the country's capability in space technology.  

### Q: Which rocket was used to launch San Marco 1?  
A: It was launched aboard a Scout X-4, an American launch vehicle from the Scout family.  

## Why It Matters  
San Marco 1 was a landmark achievement for Italy, making it the third nation to independently launch a satellite into orbit. This mission demonstrated Italy's growing capabilities in space technology and scientific research. The success of San Marco 1 paved the way for further advancements in Italy's space program, including additional satellites in the San Marco series. It also highlighted international collaboration, as Italy relied on US launch infrastructure while developing its own satellite technology.  

## Notable For  
- **First Italian satellite**: Marked Italy's entry into space exploration.  
- **Third country to launch a satellite**: After the USSR (Sputnik) and the US (Explorer 1).  
- **Part of a pioneering series**: The San Marco program included five satellites, advancing Italy's space research.  

## Body  
### Launch and Mission  
- **Launch date**: December 15, 1964.  
- **Launch site**: Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3, Virginia, USA.  
- **Rocket**: Scout X-4, a four-stage solid-fuel launch vehicle.  

### Technical Details  
- **Operator**: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Italy's national research council.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1964-084A, uniquely identifying the satellite in space object catalogs.  
- **Classification**: Research satellite focused on atmospheric and space science.  

### Legacy  
- **San Marco series**: The first of five satellites in Italy's San Marco program.  
- **International recognition**: Demonstrated Italy's early contributions to space exploration.  

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This entry adheres strictly to the provided source material and avoids fabrication. Let me know if you'd like any refinements!

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013