VELA: A space system success story

Abstract

In 1958 technical advisors supporting the Geneva negotiations for discontinuance of nuclear testing conceived of a unique application for artificial satellites. Thus began the VELA program—an orbital network of space sensors deployed by the U.S. in the 1960s that would monitor compliance with the limited nuclear test ban treaty successfully for 21 years. VELA's legacy was one of meeting requirements quickly, reliably and inexpensively. The first pair of satellites launched in 1963 reached orbit only 6 days after the test ban treaty went into effect. By 1984 the twelve satellites launched as part of the VELA program had traveled over three billion orbital miles and had recovered data from about 40 events. Operating at altitudes between 16 and 17 Earth radii, every satellite in the VELA system exceeded its design life by many times. VELA also provided natural radiation monitoring for the Apollo program and broke new ground in the field of X-ray astronomy. The VELA program was a success story from start to finish, and represented an outstanding example of a reliable, affordable space system providing useful data for a variety of applications.