Encyclopedia entry

SURCAL

Spacecraft · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

American military target satellite. Calibration satellite for NRL, USA. Launched 1962-1965.

SURveillance CALibration (SURCAL) satellites were produced in cooperation with the NRL group that had designed and developed the Naval Space Surveillance (NAVSPASUR) system. The satellites provided objects with known shapes, masses, and dimensions, thereby providing a means to calibrate the space tracking system. NAVSPASUR was the successor to NRL's innovative Vanguard tracking system, the Minitrack. Launched between 1962 and 1965, the SURCALs were built in different shapes and sizes.

More at: SURCAL.

Subtopics

Surcal 1 Calibration satellite, USA. Launched 1962.

Family: Medium earth orbit, Military, Military target sat, Surveillance
Country: USA
Launch Vehicles: Thor, Delta, Thor Ablestar, Thor Agena D, Thor SLV-2 Agena D, Thorad SLV-2G Agena D
Launch Sites: Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg, Cape Canaveral LC17B, Vandenberg SLC2E, Vandenberg SLC1W, Vandenberg SLC2W
Agency: USAF, U.S. Navy
Bibliography: 2, 279, 6

Photo Gallery

Surcal 1
Credit: Manufacturer Image
Surcal 2
Credit: Manufacturer Image

Chronology

7 events

1962 January 24

09:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Ablestar. FAILURE: Failure.

Surcal - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Radar calibration target. Spacecraft: Surcal.

1962 December 13

04:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena D.

SURCAL 1A - . Mass: 37 kg (81 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF, USN. Class: Surveillance. Type: Radar calibration target. Spacecraft: SURCAL. Decay Date: 1966-01-18 . USAF Sat Cat: 508 . COSPAR: 1962-B-Tau-4. Apogee: 2,160 km (1,340 mi). Perigee: 227 km (141 mi). Inclination: 70.30 deg. Period: 109.30 min. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). .

1963 June 15

14:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena D.

SURCAL 1B - . Mass: 3.00 kg (6.60 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Surveillance. Type: Radar calibration target. Spacecraft: SURCAL. Decay Date: 1963-07-05 . USAF Sat Cat: 597 . COSPAR: 1963-021F. Apogee: 802 km (498 mi). Perigee: 172 km (106 mi). Inclination: 69.90 deg. Period: 94.40 min. Surveillance Calibration. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). .

1965 March 9

18:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor SLV-2 Agena D.

SURCAL 2B - . Mass: 5.00 kg (11.00 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Surveillance. Type: Radar calibration target. Spacecraft: SURCAL. Decay Date: 1981-03-27 . USAF Sat Cat: 1310 . COSPAR: 1965-016G. Apogee: 947 km (588 mi). Perigee: 902 km (560 mi). Inclination: 70.10 deg. Period: 103.50 min. Surveillance Calibration. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). .

1965 August 13

22:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Ablestar.

Long Rod - . Payload: Navspasur Rod. Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Surveillance. Type: Radar calibration target. Spacecraft: Surcal. USAF Sat Cat: 1515 . COSPAR: 1965-065G. Apogee: 1,194 km (741 mi). Perigee: 1,090 km (670 mi). Inclination: 90.00 deg. Period: 108.10 min. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). .

SURCAL 5 - . Payload: NRL PL150C?. Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Surveillance. Type: Radar calibration target. Spacecraft: SURCAL. USAF Sat Cat: 1521 . COSPAR: 1965-065K. Apogee: 1,196 km (743 mi). Perigee: 1,083 km (672 mi). Inclination: 90.00 deg. Period: 108.11 min.

1967 May 31

Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor SLV-2 Agena D.

Surcal 160 - . Payload: NRL PL160 / Agena D 2704. Mass: 2.00 kg (4.40 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Radar calibration target. Spacecraft: Surcal. USAF Sat Cat: 2825 . COSPAR: 1967-053B. Apogee: 927 km (576 mi). Perigee: 923 km (573 mi). Inclination: 69.90 deg. Period: 103.50 min. 20 inch dia. calibration sphere. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). .

SURCAL 150B - . Payload: NRL PL150B. Mass: 2.00 kg (4.40 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Class: Surveillance. Type: Radar calibration target. Spacecraft: SURCAL. USAF Sat Cat: 2909 . COSPAR: 1967-053J. Apogee: 816 km (507 mi). Perigee: 805 km (500 mi). Inclination: 70.00 deg. Period: 101.10 min. The last Air Force Thor/Agena D, SLV-2 #443 and SS-01B #2704, was launched from Vandenberg. 16 inch dia. calibration sphere. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). .

1969 September 30

13:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2G Agena D.

Surcal - . Payload: NRL PL176 / OPS 7613 P/L 1. Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Class: Surveillance. Type: Radar calibration target. Spacecraft: Surcal. USAF Sat Cat: 4256 . COSPAR: 1969-082B. Apogee: 918 km (570 mi). Perigee: 893 km (554 mi). Inclination: 70.00 deg. Period: 103.10 min. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A)..