The satellite's skeleton was made of aluminum and stainless steel and had the shape of a prism with an eighteen-sided base.

Power was supplied by 12,000 1x2 cm photovoltaic cells arranged on its sides, which were used to charge 21 NiCd batteries.

An additional stabilization system was provided by five constant-current engines mounted on the circumference of its bottom.

The satellite was also equipped with a Flat Plane Radiometer (FPR) used to measure solar energy reflected from the Earth.

It was launched atop a Delta rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.