San Marco 1: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|First Italian satellite}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = San Marco 1

| image = San_Marco_1.jpg

| image_caption =

| mission_type = Ionospheric<br/>[[Earth science]]<br/>Astrophysics<ref name='nssdc'>{{cite web | title= San Marco 1 | url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1964-084A | publisher= NASA – National Space Science Data Centre | accessdate= 2010-08-31}}</ref>

| operator = [[Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche|CNR]]

| website =

| COSPAR_ID = 1964-084A

| SATCAT =

| mission_duration = ~272&nbsp;days

| spacecraft_bus =

| manufacturer =

| dry_mass =

| launch_mass = {{convert|115.2|kg}}<ref name='nssdc'/>

| power =

| launch_date = {{start-date|15 December 1964, 20:24:00|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC<ref name='nssdc'/>

| launch_rocket = [[Scout X-4]]<ref name="gunt">{{cite web | url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/ariel-1.htm | first=Gunter | last=Krebs | work=Gunter's Space Page | title=San Marco 1, 2 (A, B) | accessdate=2010-08-27}}</ref>

| launch_site = [[Wallops Flight Facility|Wallops]] [[Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3|LA-3A]]

| launch_contractor =

| disposal_type =

| deactivated =

| last_contact = <!-- {{end-date|[insert date here]}} -->

| decay_date =13 September 1965<ref name='nssdc'/>

| orbit_epoch = 15 December 1964 20:24:00 UTC

| orbit_reference = [[geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]

| orbit_regime = [[Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]]

| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|198.0|km|mi}}<ref name='nssdc'/>

| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|846.0|km|mi}}<ref name='nssdc'/>

| orbit_inclination = 37.80&nbsp;degrees<ref name='nssdc'/>

| orbit_eccentricity = 0.0469<ref name='nssdc'/>

| orbit_period = 94.9&nbsp;minutes<ref name='nssdc'/>

| apsis = gee

}}

[[Image:Satellite San Marco 1.jpg|thumb|250px|San Marco 1 being loaded into the Scout rocket fairing]]

'''San Marco 1''', also known as '''San Marco A''', was the first [[Italy|Italian]] [[satellite]]. Built in-house by the Italian Space Research Commission ({{lang-it|Commissione per le Ricerche Spaziali}}, CRS) on behalf of the [[Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche|National Research Council]], it was the first of five as part of the Italian-US [[San Marco programme]].

The name of the spacecraft series comes from the San Marco platform, a [[Jackup rig#Barges|Jackup barge]] used as an offshore launch pad for the main phase of the project. San Marco ({{lang-en|[[Saint Mark]]}}) is the [[patron saint]] of [[Venice]], often depicted as aiding Venetian sailors.<ref name="nasahist2">{{Cite web | title=II. SATELLITES | url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4402/ch2.htm | publisher=NASA History Office |accessdate=2010-08-24}}</ref>

In 1961 the Italian government, led by [[Amintore Fanfani]], approved a plan for the development of an indigenous satellite research programme that had earlier been proposed by the CRS. At the time only the [[Soviet Union]] and the [[United States of America|United States]] had launched [[Space Race|spacecraft into orbit]] and Italy lacked a suitable launcher and crews trained in firing orbital rockets. As a result, a cooperative plan was developed with the American space agency [[NASA]] who would provide the rockets and the launch crew training for Italians to operate them.<ref name="nasahist2"/>

The mission was principally a test-flight of a real satellite to gain experience before launches from Italy's own [[Broglio Space Centre|San Marco platform]] began, the last of 3 phases of the project.<ref name="nasahist">{{Cite web | title=Chapter 18 - Cooperation With Western Countries | url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4211/ch18-4.htm | publisher=NASA History Office |accessdate=2010-08-24}}</ref>

San Marco 1 was launched by an Italian crew using an American [[Scout (rocket family)|Scout]] rocket from [[Wallops Flight Facility]], Virginia, US. Launched on 15 December 1964 at 20:24:00 UTC the satellite destructively re-entered the atmosphere on 13 September 1965.

{{Portal|Spaceflight|}}

* [[Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes]]

* [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1964-084A NASA NSSDC San Marco 1]

* [http://sanmarco1964.wix.com/sanmarco Progetto San Marco Memorabilia]

{{clear}}

[[Category:Satellites formerly orbiting Earth]]

[[Category:Satellites of Italy]]

[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1964]]

[[Category:First artificial satellites of a country]]

[[Category:1964 in Italy]]