Encyclopedia entry

Atlas G Centaur

USA

Part of Atlas

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

Atlas-Centaur launch vehicles using stretched, uprated Atlas core.

LEO Payload: 3,630 kg (8,000 lb) to a 185 km orbit. Payload: 2,255 kg (4,971 lb) to a GTO. Launch Price $: 70.300 million in 1994 dollars.

More at: Atlas G Centaur.

Family: orbital launch vehicle
Country: USA
Engines: LR105-7, LR89-7, RL-10A-3A
Spacecraft: FLTSATCOM, Intelsat 5, Intelsat 5A
Projects: Intelsat
Launch Sites: Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LC36B
Stages: Atlas MA-5, Atlas G/H/I, Centaur I
Agency: Convair

Chronology

7 events

1984 June 9

23:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC36B. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas G Centaur. FAILURE: Centaur structural failure. . Failed Stage: U.

Intelsat 5 F-9 - . Mass: 1,091 kg (2,405 lb). Nation: International. Agency: Intelsat. Program: Intelsat. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Intelsat 5. Decay Date: 1984-10-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 15034 . COSPAR: 1984-057A. Apogee: 1,227 km (762 mi). Perigee: 180 km (110 mi). Inclination: 29.20 deg. Period: 98.90 min. Failure of Centaur upper stage left stranded in useless orbit. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle was to have put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

1985 March 22

23:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC36B. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas G Centaur.

Intelsat 5A F-10 - . Mass: 2,013 kg (4,437 lb). Nation: International. Agency: Intelsat. Program: Intelsat. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Intelsat 5. Spacecraft: Intelsat 5A. USAF Sat Cat: 15629 . COSPAR: 1985-025A. Apogee: 36,468 km (22,660 mi). Perigee: 36,237 km (22,516 mi). Inclination: 7.20 deg. Period: 1,465.10 min.
Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 24 deg W in 1985-1990; 174 deg E in 1990-1994; 66 deg E in 1994-1995; 57 deg E in 1995-1996; 33 deg E in 1996-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 135.23 deg W drifting at 7.152 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 107.21W drifting at 7.157W degrees per day.

1985 June 30

00:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC36B. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas G Centaur.

Intelsat 5A F-11 - . Mass: 1,098 kg (2,420 lb). Nation: International. Agency: Intelsat. Program: Intelsat. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Intelsat 5. Spacecraft: Intelsat 5A. USAF Sat Cat: 15873 . COSPAR: 1985-055A. Apogee: 35,799 km (22,244 mi). Perigee: 35,773 km (22,228 mi). Inclination: 0.70 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 27 deg W in 1985-1990; 63 deg E in 1990-1992; 177 deg E in 1992-1994; 180 deg E in 1994-1997; 29 deg W in 1998-1999 As of 4 September 2001 located at 29.54 deg W drifting at 0.005 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 113.07W drifting at 0.696W degrees per day.

1985 September 28

23:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC36B. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas G Centaur.

Intelsat 5A F-12 - . Mass: 1,096 kg (2,416 lb). Nation: International. Agency: Intelsat. Program: Intelsat. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Intelsat 5. Spacecraft: Intelsat 5A. Completed Operations Date: 1998-06-23 . USAF Sat Cat: 16101 . COSPAR: 1985-087A. Apogee: 36,140 km (22,450 mi). Perigee: 36,086 km (22,422 mi). Inclination: 6.20 deg. Period: 1,452.80 min.
Telephone communications; 31 deg E. Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 60 deg E in 1985-1989; 1 deg W in 1989-1994; 21 deg W in 1994-1996; 56 deg W in 1996-1998 As of 28 August 2001 located at 145.57 deg E drifting at 4.159 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 19.14E drifting at 4.163W degrees per day.

1986 December 5

02:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC36B. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas G Centaur.

USA 20 - . Payload: Fltsatcom 7. Mass: 2,310 kg (5,090 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: Fltsatcom. USAF Sat Cat: 17181 . COSPAR: 1986-096A. Apogee: 35,832 km (22,264 mi). Perigee: 35,740 km (22,200 mi). Inclination: 0.90 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 100 deg W in 1987-1999 Last known longitude (27 July 1999) 100.33 deg W drifting at 0.027 deg W per day.

1987 March 26

21:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC36B. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas G Centaur. FAILURE: Lightning strike zapped guidance at T+51 seconds. Fault was directly attributed to a random memory upset that forced rocket to veer off course. Destroyed by range safety.. Failed Stage: G.

Fltsatcom 6 - . Payload: Fltsatcom 6. Mass: 2,300 kg (5,000 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: Fltsatcom. Decay Date: 1987-03-26 .

1989 September 25

08:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC36B. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas G Centaur.

USA 46 - . Payload: Fltsatcom 8. Mass: 2,310 kg (5,090 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: Fltsatcom. USAF Sat Cat: 20253 . COSPAR: 1989-077A. Apogee: 35,797 km (22,243 mi). Perigee: 35,777 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 4.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Last in series of 8. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 23 deg W in 1989-1999.