Transit, Card No 04 (RaceIntoSpace 1971)
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Card No. 04: Transit
The United States Navy instituted a navigation programme as long ago as 1958 to provide accurate, all-weather positional data for its ships around the world. Ballistic-missile submarines, in particular, need to know their position to a few hundred yards for launching their missiles.
The first of a series of Transit satellites was launched from Cape Canaveral on April 13th, 1960, into a 232 by 463 mile Earth orbit. The satellites continuously transmit their positions, so that any vessel receiving these signals can locate itself.
Some commercial shipping also uses the system.
