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Atlas E/MSD
Status: Retired 1980. First Launch: 1980-12-09. Last Launch: 1980-12-09. Number: 1 . Thrust: 1,731.00 kN (389,144 lbf). Gross mass: 122,000 kg (268,000 lb). Height: 27.30 m (89.50 ft). Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Apogee: 1,100 km (600 mi).
More at: Atlas E/MSD.
Family: orbital launch vehicle. Country: USA. Spacecraft: NOSS, LIPS. Launch Sites: Vandenberg, Vandenberg SLC3W. Stages: Atlas E/F, Atlas MA-3, Altair 3. Agency: Convair.
1980 December 9 - . 07:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas E/MSD. FAILURE: Premature shut down of one of the Atlas booster engines turned the vehicle around, thereafter the sustainer thrust it back toward the earth.. Failed Stage: 1.
- NOSS - .
Payload: PARCAE 4. Mass: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: USN.
Class: Surveillance.
Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft: NOSS.
Decay Date: 1980-12-08 . COSPAR: F801209A.
Ocean surveillance; aka White Cloud type spacecraft; Navy Ocean Surveillance Satellite; PARCAE. Other sources give the payload designation ABSAD. The failure was caused by a loss of lubricating oil to one of the booster engines, causing the engine to fail approx 200 milliseconds before it was to have shut down on guidance command. The asymmetric thrust pivoted the booster around approximately 180 degrees, where it stabilized in a retrofire attitude with the sustainer engine still firing. It descended back toward earth through its own exhaust flame and exploded a couple of minutes later.
- SSU - . Payload: SSU. Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft: NOSS. COSPAR: F801209D.
- SSU - . Payload: SSU. Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft: NOSS. COSPAR: F801209C.
- SSU - . Payload: SSU. Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval SIGINT. Spacecraft: NOSS. COSPAR: F801209B.
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