FLTSATCOM-3

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

01:26:00

Friday January 18, 1980

Watch Replay

Official Livestream

Mission Details

FLTSATCOM-3

Wiki

FLTSATCOM-3 or (FSC-3) was the third vehicle in the Navy's FLTSATCOM communications satellite constellation, which was used by the United States Navy for communications between aircraft, ships, submarines, and ground stations. Fltsatcom 3 provided 28 5-kHz and 11 20-kHz communications channels simultaneously in the UHF band. The UHF up-link was in the 290 to 320 MHz range while the down-link was in the 240 to 320 MHz range. A number of channels were reserved for high-priority communications by the United States Air Force. These were ground-to-air communications between SAC aircraft, the E-3A airborne warning and control system, and elements of the presidential command structure. FSC-3's life officially ended in September 1995.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

1,842 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Atlas-SLV3D Centaur-D1AR

Active 1975 to 1983


Stages

2

Launch Site

SLC-36A

Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Fastest Turnaround

46 days 2 hours

Stats

Atlas-Centaur


52nd

Mission

1st

Mission of 1980

1980


4th

Orbital launch attempt