FLTSATCOM-5

Launch Partial Failure

Liftoff Time (GMT)

08:16:00

Thursday August 6, 1981

Watch Replay

24/7 Coverage

Mission Details

Launch Notes

The fairing collapsed during ascent, damaging the spacecraft.

FLTSATCOM-5

Wiki

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.

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


57th

Mission

3rd

Mission of 1981

1981


75th

Orbital launch attempt