Transit navigation satellite equipped with nuclear power. December 5, 1963 at 21:51 UTC · Launch Successful Thor DM-21 Ablestar — United States Air Force, to Polar Orbit Space Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA The world's 287th orbital launch attempt, and 63rd of 1963. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs. Image via The Space Devs.