The Vela Program Monitoring the 1963 Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

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Slide 20 of 29

Notes:

Background information:

Mission: verification support for the 1963 Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Program actually named Vela Hotel (joint DoD and AEC)

First launch in 1963, satellites turned off in 1984

The first Vela Satellites launched in pairs (six total satellites); the Advanced Vela satellites were larger (included optical monitors), and 3 were launched

1 year between contract issuance and first launch in 1963

Observed South African nuclear test over the Indian Ocean in 1979