PAGEOS 1

USA

Passive Geodetic Earth Orbiting Satellite

Launch data:

Designation	02253 / 66056A
Launch date	24 Jun 1966 - 00:12:02 UT
Launch site	Va, 75-1-1
Launch vehicle	Thor-SLV2A Agena-D (#473/TA7)
Mission	Scientific: Geodesy
Earth orbit:
Perigee/Apogee	2953/5207 km
Inclination	84.4°
Period	177.4 min

Was an inflatable 30 (or 41?) m diameter aluminum coated mylar balloon weighing 55 kg.

End of live:

Re-entered date:	02 Sep 2016 (.1)
Lifetime:

In 1975 the satellite broke up (??) into dozens of pieces... numerous decayed but some remain in orbit. They are of special interest for scientist studying solar radiation pressure (SRP)... because on some orbits, the debris actually gain altitude!
Item 66056C: Pageos canister half
Item 66056D: Pageos canister half

Ref: #3(SD527), #7, #228 - update: 07.03.17