# Transit 4B
**Wikidata**: [Q9361181](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9361181)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/transit-4b

## Summary
Transit 4B was a geodetic satellite launched on November 15, 1961 from Cape Canaveral using a Thor-Ablestar launch vehicle.

## Key Facts
- It was classified as a geodetic satellite (instance_of: geodetic satellite)
- Its COSPAR identification number is 1961-031A (cospar_id: 1961-031A)
- The launch date was November 15, 1961 (launch_date: 1961-11-15)
- It was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 (start_point: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17)
- The launch vehicle was a Thor-Ablestar expendable launch system (launch_vehicle: Thor-Ablestar)
- It has the Harvard designation 1961 Alpha Eta 1 (harvard_designation: 1961 Alpha Eta 1)
- Its spacecraft number is 00202 (scn: 00202)

### Q: What was Transit 4B?
A: Transit 4B was a geodetic satellite launched in 1961 that was used for research and applications in geodesy.

### Q: When was Transit 4B launched?
A: It was launched on November 15, 1961 from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

### Q: What launch vehicle was used for Transit 4B?
A: The Thor-Ablestar was used as the launch vehicle for Transit 4B.

## Why It Matters
Transit 4B played a significant role in the development of satellite-based geodesy, which revolutionized how Earth's shape and position could be precisely measured. As a geodetic satellite, it contributed to the advancement of navigation and positioning technologies that have become fundamental to modern mapping, surveying, and satellite navigation systems. The satellite's data helped scientists understand Earth's gravitational field and improve our understanding of the planet's geometric shape.

## Notable For
- It was the fourth satellite in the Transit series, specifically designated as 4B
- It was launched using the Thor-Ablestar expendable launch system
- It carried the Harvard designation 1961 Alpha Eta 1
- Its COSPAR ID was 1961-031A
- It was part of the geodetic satellite class used for research and applications in geodesy

### Body
#### Technical Specifications
Transit 4B was classified as a geodetic satellite, which falls under the broader category of artificial satellites used in geodesy research and applications. The satellite was identified by multiple designations including its COSPAR ID (1961-031A) and spacecraft number (00202). 

#### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on November 15, 1961 from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17. The Thor-Ablestar launch vehicle was used for this mission, which was an American expendable launch system. The launch marked a significant event in the history of satellite geodesy.

#### Designation Systems
The satellite carried multiple designation systems:
- COSPAR ID: 1961-031A
- Spacecraft Number (SCN): 00202
- Harvard designation: 1961 Alpha Eta 1

These multiple designation systems reflect the different classification and tracking systems used by various space agencies and academic institutions during the early space era. The satellite's classification as a geodetic satellite indicates its primary purpose was to provide precise positioning data for Earth's surface measurements.

## References

1. [Transit 4B. NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1961-031A)
2. Jonathan's Space Report