Encyclopedia entry

DMSP Block 5C

Spacecraft · USA

Part of DMSP

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

DMSP-Block-5C F1
Credit: Manufacturer Image

American earth weather satellite. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. Meteorology satellite built by RCA Astro, USA. Launched 1974 - 1976.

More at: DMSP Block 5C.

Family: Earth, Earth weathersat, Sun synchronous orbit
Country: USA
Launch Vehicles: Thor, Delta, Thor Burner 2A, Thor Burner
Projects: DMSP
Launch Sites: Vandenberg, Vandenberg SLC10W
Agency: USAF
Bibliography: 2, 279, 6, 12234

Chronology

7 events

1974 August 9

03:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC10W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Burner 2A.

DMSP-Block-5C F1 - . Payload: DMSP 9532 / OPS 6983. Mass: 195 kg (429 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: DMSP. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5C. USAF Sat Cat: 7411 . COSPAR: 1974-063A. Apogee: 844 km (524 mi). Perigee: 779 km (484 mi). Inclination: 98.80 deg. Period: 101.10 min. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

1975 May 24

03:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC10W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Burner 2A.

DMSP-Block-5C F2 - . Payload: DMSP 10533 / OPS 6226. Mass: 194 kg (427 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: DMSP. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5C. USAF Sat Cat: 7816 . COSPAR: 1975-043A. Apogee: 880 km (540 mi). Perigee: 794 km (493 mi). Inclination: 98.70 deg. Period: 101.70 min. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program..

1976 February 19

07:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC10W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Burner 2A. FAILURE: Early booster cut-off due to incorrect calculation of the Thor fuel load.. Failed Stage: G.

DMSP-Block-5C F3 - . Payload: DMSP 11534/Star 26B S/N 009 / OPS 5140. Mass: 175 kg (385 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DMSP. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: DMSP. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5C. Decay Date: 1976-02-19 . USAF Sat Cat: 8696 . COSPAR: 1976-016A. Apogee: 361 km (224 mi). Perigee: 89 km (55 mi). Inclination: 98.90 deg. Period: 88.90 min. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program; unusable orbit. Last of the Thor Burner missions..

1976 May 22

DMSP 5C satellite F-31 was declared non-operational. - . Spacecraft Bus: DMSP. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5C.

1976 December 9

DMSP 5C satellite F-29 was declared non-operational. - . Spacecraft Bus: DMSP. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5C.

1977 Feb

DMSP tracking system was installed at Hickam AFB - . Spacecraft Bus: DMSP. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5C.
A tracking system was installed at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, that allowed Hickam to track DMSP satellites and receive data directly from them. The system was declared operational in June, and Hickam began functioning as a weather readout station in the DMSP system.

1977 December 1

Last two DMSP Block 5C satellites turned off. - . Spacecraft Bus: DMSP. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5C. The Air Weather Service decided that it no longer required support from DMSP Block 5C satellites, and the two remaining Block 5C satellites were turned off permanently. This ended the Block 5C era..