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Delta 2313

Launch vehicle · USA

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

American orbital launch vehicle. Three stage vehicle consisting of 3 x Castor 2 + 1 x ELT Thor/RS-27 + 1 x Delta P /TR-201 + 1 x Star 37D

LEO Payload: 500 kg (1,100 lb). Payload: 500 kg (1,100 lb) to a GTO.

More at: Delta 2313.

Country
USA
Spacecraft
Skynet, Sirio
Agency
Douglas

Chronology

3 events

1974 January 19

01:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 2313. FAILURE: Malfunction of the Thor Delta launch vehicle. Failed to reach planned orbit.. Failed Stage: U.
  • Skynet 2A - . Mass: 129 kg (284 lb). Nation: UK. Agency: MoD. Program: Skynet. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: Skynet. Decay Date: 1974-01-25 . USAF Sat Cat: 7096 . COSPAR: 1974-002A. Apogee: 1,803 km (1,120 mi). Perigee: 104 km (64 mi). Inclination: 37.50 deg. Period: 104.10 min. The first of two British satellites-Skynet IIA-was launched from the Eastern Test Range. The payload was lost.

1974 November 23

00:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 2313.
  • Skynet 2B - . Payload: Skynet 2A. Mass: 129 kg (284 lb). Nation: UK. Agency: MoD. Program: Skynet. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: Skynet. Completed Operations Date: 1992-01-01 . USAF Sat Cat: 7547 . COSPAR: 1974-094A. Apogee: 35,822 km (22,258 mi). Perigee: 35,782 km (22,233 mi). Inclination: 12.20 deg. Period: 1,436.90 min.

    A Thor-Delta launched from the Eastern Test Range lifted the second of two Skynet II (Skynet IIB) defense communications satellite for the United Kingdom into an elliptical transfer orbit. Two days later, a firing of the satellite's apogee boost motor placed the satellite in a near circular orbit prior to final positioning in a synchronous orbit over the Indian Ocean. The first Skynet II satellite, Skynet IIA, was lost in January 1974 due to a booster failure after launch from Cape Canaveral. Military communications. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Indian Ocean at 50-55 deg E in 1975-1977; drifting As of 3 September 2001 located at 18.23 deg E drifting at 0.206 deg W per day. As of 2007 Feb 27 located at 54.93E drifting at 0.393E degrees per day.

1977 August 25

23:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 2313.
  • Sirio 1 - . Mass: 220 kg (480 lb). Nation: Italy. Agency: CNR. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft: Sirio. Completed Operations Date: 1989-09-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 10294 . COSPAR: 1977-080A. Apogee: 35,869 km (22,287 mi). Perigee: 35,755 km (22,217 mi). Inclination: 9.60 deg. Period: 1,437.40 min.

    Experimental commsat. SIRIO (Satellite Italiano Ricerca Industriale Orientata). Launch time 2350:00 GMT. Geographical longitude of geostationary orbit 15 deg W. SIRIO is a spin stabilized geostationary experimental communications satellite. Characteristics of satellite: Weight at launch 398 kg, in orbit 218 kg. Configuration - cylindrical, height 1.981m, diameter 1.433 m, nominal life two years. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Atlantic Ocean at 15 deg W in 1977-1981; over the Atlantic Ocean 25 deg W in 1981-1983; over the Indian Ocean 65 deg E in 1983-1985 As of 4 September 2001 located at 86.65 deg E drifting at 0.265 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 75.38E drifting at 0.003E degrees per day.