NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Partial Failure

FLTSATCOM-5

Launch Time
Thu Aug 06, 1981 08:16 UTC

The fairing collapsed during ascent, damaging the spacecraft.

Rocket

Atlas-SLV3D Centaur-D1AR
Image Credit: USAF or NASA
General Dynamics
Status: Retired
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0

Mission Details

FLTSATCOM-5

The FLTSATCOM (Fleet Satellite Communications) communications satellite system served as a world-wide UHF communications link among USN aircraft, ships, submarines, and ground stations. This high-capacity spaceborne communications system gave the Navy both shore-to-fleet and single-way communication among ships, aircraft, and submarines separated by distances exceeding line-of-sight UHF ranges.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 1,842.0 kg
Geostationary Transfer Orbit

Location

SLC-36A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

1981

75th orbital launch attempt

Atlas-Centaur

57th mission
3rd mission of 1981