Proton-K/Block DM-3

Status

Partial Failure

AsiaSat 3

Launch Time
Wed Dec 24, 1997 23:19 UTC

Rocket

Proton-K/Block DM-3

ILS

Status: Retired

Liftoff Thrust: 9,548 kN

Payload to LEO: 19,000 kg

Payload to GTO: 2,500 kg

Stages: 4

Strap-ons: 0

Rocket Height: 57.64 m

Fairing Diameter: 4.35 m

Fairing Height: 10.4 m

Details

Mission Details

AsiaSat 3

AsiaSat 3 was a communication satellite intended to be launched on a GTO trajectory for AsiaSat Ltd. However, due to an issue with the DM-03 upper stage, it was left in an unusable orbit. After being declared a loss and sold to Hughes Global Services and renamed WGS-1, it was decided to schedule two flybys with the moon to alter the satellite's orbit to make it usable for telecommunications. This made WGS-1 the first commercial spacecraft to have a flyby with the moon.

Payloads: 1

Total Mass: 3,400.0 kg

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

Wiki

Location

Site 81/23, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Wiki

Stats

1997

89th orbital launch attempt

Proton-K

249th mission

9th mission of 1997