Launch Partial Failure

Liftoff Time (GMT)

19:12:00

Friday December 22, 1961

Mission Details

Launch Notes

The sustainer cutoff timer failed, causing the Atlas to burn to propellant depletion and putting the payload in a higher-than-planned orbit.

Samos 5

Wiki

The Samos E or SAMOS ("Satellite and Missile Observation System") program was a relatively short-lived series of reconnaissance satellites for the United States in the early 1960s, also used as a cover for the initial development of the KH-7 Gambit system.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

Rocket

Retired
Atlas-LV3 Agena-B

Active 1961 to 1965


Payload to Orbit

LEO: 1,725 kg

Stages

2

Launch Site

SLC-3E

Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Fastest Turnaround

32 days 16 hours

Stats

Atlas-Agena


11th

Mission

8th

Mission of 1961

1961


50th

Orbital launch attempt