NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Failure

STP P68-1

Launch Time
Fri Aug 16, 1968 20:57 UTC

Payload fairing failed to separate.

Rocket

Atlas-SLV3 Burner-2
Image Credit: USAF or NASA
General Dynamics
Status: Retired
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0

Mission Details

Orbiscal 1 (P68-1)

Orbiscal 1 was a small satellite intended to investigate hyper-efficient propagation paths for ionospheric communications.

Orbiscal 1 carried radio beacons operating at 13.23 and 8.98 MHz, which were used by ground station personnel to study unusual transmission by radio waves through the ionosphere.

The satellite failed to reach orbit. The Orbiscal experiment was later reflown on OV1 17A (Orbiscal 2).

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 30.0 kg

Location

SLC-3E, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Stats

1968

76th orbital launch attempt

Atlas-Burner

1st mission
1st mission of 1968
1st failed mission