Temperature, winds research. Launched at 2100 local time. Reached 80.5 km.

USAF successfully launched pellets at a speed faster than 15 km/sec (some 3.5 km/sec faster than the velocity necessary to escape from the earth) by an Aerobee rocket to a height of 56 km; the nose section then ascended to a height of 87 km where shaped charges blasted the pellets into space. It is claimed that the Superschmidt Telescope at Sacremento Peak photographed the trajectory with a rotating shutter. These little metal pellets would therefore be the first objects to be shot into interplanetary space, months before the first launch to escape velocity (Luna 1, January 1959). But also see August 1957 nuclear test that may have blasted a manhole cover to escape velocity. References: 91 .

NACA flight 24. First flight with elevated chamber pressure; cut short because overcast obscured pilot's view of lakebed. References: 49 , 97 .

High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; also carried weather and biological experiments. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Apollo Program Director Samuel C. Phillips ordered that the Saturn IB program be placed in a standby status pending any future requirements for Apollo or the Apollo Applications program. Phillips' action signaled the shift in Apollo to the Saturn V vehicle, effective with AS-503. References: 16 .

High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 99 .

Attempted robotic lunar soil return mission. Block D stage failed. References: 5 , 67 , 274 .

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Acquisition of meteorological information needed for use by the weather service. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Military navigation satellite. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Photo surveillance; returned film capsule. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Military cartographic satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

High resolution photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission. References: 1 , 2 , 6 , 179 .

BP-TD (Brilliant Pebbles)

Geosynchronous. Stationed over 76.5E References: 4 .

Wakata aboard the shuttle used the RMS arm to unberth the PMA-3 docking unit from the SLP pallet at 16:14 GMT, and docked it to Unity at 17:40 GMT. Wisoff and Lopez-Alegria first unbolted PMA-3 from the SLP and then guided Wakata through the delicate alignment process as PMA-3 was removed from the bay and attached to the Station.

Progress docked with Mir, primarily to raise its orbit and preserve the option of a MirCorp-financed flight in 2001.