Status
Success
Solwind
Launch Time
Sat Feb 24, 1979 08:20 UTC
Sat Feb 24, 1979 08:20 UTC
Rocket
Mission Details
Solwind
P78-1 was the first satellite in space to discover a comet in general and a sungrazing comet in particular. In total, 9 sungrazing comets, all belonging to the Kreutz group, were discovered on images taken by the Solwind coronagraph. The satellite operated until it was destroyed in orbit on September 13, 1985, to test the ASM-135 ASAT anti-satellite missile.
Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 1,331.0 kg
Polar Orbit
Location
SLC-3W, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA
Stats
1979
18th orbital launch attempt
Atlas-OIS
1st mission
1st mission of 1979
1st successful mission