# Timation

> series of American military navigation satellites

**Wikidata**: [Q591183](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q591183)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timation)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/timation

## Summary
Timation is a series of American military navigation satellites developed to provide satellite-based positioning for the United States Armed Forces. Manufactured by the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the program officially entered service on May 31, 1967.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Spacecraft series and navigation satellite.
- **Operator:** United States Armed Forces.
- **Manufacturer:** United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL).
- **Service Entry:** May 31, 1967.
- **Country of Origin:** United States.
- **Key Components:** Includes Navigation Technology Satellite-1 (NTS-1) and Navigation Technology Satellite-2 (NTS-2).
- **Manufacturer Headquarters:** Washington, D.C.
- **Aliases:** Timation satellite.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of Timation?
A: Timation is a series of military satellites designed for navigation. It was developed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory to provide the U.S. military with space-based navigation capabilities.

### Q: When did the Timation program begin its service?
A: The Timation series officially entered service on May 31, 1967. It represents an early implementation of American military navigation technology in space.

### Q: Who was responsible for building the Timation satellites?
A: The satellites were manufactured by the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). The NRL is a corporate research laboratory for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps that has been in operation since 1923.

## Why It Matters
Timation represents a critical phase in the development of American military space infrastructure. As a dedicated series of navigation satellites, it provided the United States Armed Forces with the experimental framework necessary to advance satellite-based positioning. The program is significant for its association with the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), an institution with a history dating back to 1923. By launching satellites like NTS-1 and NTS-2, the program transitioned theoretical navigation research into functional military hardware. Its entry into service in 1967 marks it as a foundational element of early American space-based navigation efforts, establishing the technical precedents for subsequent military satellite systems.

## Notable For
- **Experimental Foundations:** Served as the platform for the Navigation Technology Satellite-1 (NTS-1) and NTS-2, which were experimental military navigation craft.
- **NRL Development:** Manufactured by the United States Naval Research Laboratory, the primary research arm for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
- **Early Service Entry:** One of the early dedicated military navigation satellite series, entering service in May 1967.
- **Military Integration:** Specifically operated by the United States Armed Forces for military-grade navigation requirements.

## Body

### Program Overview
Timation is a specialized series of spacecraft categorized as navigation satellites. The program was established by the United States to support the navigation requirements of the United States Armed Forces. It is recognized in academic and technical databases under the alias "Timation satellite."

### Development and Manufacturing
The series was manufactured by the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). The NRL is a corporate research laboratory headquartered in Washington, D.C., serving both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. The laboratory, which employed over 2,600 people as of 2016, has been active since its inception on July 2, 1923.

### Technical Components
The Timation program included several key experimental satellites:
*   **Navigation Technology Satellite-1 (NTS-1):** An American experimental military navigation satellite.
*   **Navigation Technology Satellite-2 (NTS-2):** A subsequent experimental military navigation satellite used to further the program's objectives.

### Operational History
The Timation series officially entered service on May 31, 1967. While it originated in the United States, the program's history and technical details are documented across multiple languages and international platforms, including various European Wikipedia editions and the United States Naval Research Laboratory's historical archives.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/nts-1.htm)