Star-Rad (Starfish Radiation) was a military scientific payload to study the artificial radiation belts created by the Starfish-Prime nuclear test. October 26, 1962 at 16:14 UTC · Launch Successful Thor Agena D — United States Air Force, to Elliptical Orbit Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA The world's 209th orbital launch attempt, and 67th of 1962. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs. Image by USAF via The Space Devs.