An Atlas LV-3A Agena-B rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 1-2 at the Point Arguello Naval Air Station.

[4] During the launch, the first stage sustainer engine failed to shut down on time, and instead burned until all of its oxidiser had been depleted.

Within a few days of launch, it was commanded to deorbit in order to return its film capsule.

This was conducted, however due to the additional altitude provided by the anomaly during launch, it was unable to fully deorbit.

The film capsule, which had separated following the attempted deorbit burn, decayed on 9 January 1962.