NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Miranda (X-4)

Launch Time
Sat Mar 09, 1974 02:22 UTC

Rocket

Scout D1
US Air Force
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 622 kN
Payload to LEO: 185 kg
Payload to GTO: 0 kg
Stages: 4
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 21.0 m

Mission Details

Miranda (X-4)

The British Miranda satellite, also known as X-4, was an experimental spacecraft. It was designed to serve as an engineering test bed to check the application of a three-axis integrating gyro system for attitude control and a three-axis rate gyro system for rate control.

The satellite was in the form of a box 83.5 cm high, with a square base 66.5 cm on a side. Electrical power to the spacecraft was supplied from batteries and solar panels. When fully deployed the panels measured 250 cm in length.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 92.0 kg
Polar Orbit

Location

SLC-5, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Stats

1974

14th orbital launch attempt

Scout

68th mission
2nd mission of 1974
55th successful mission
17th consecutive successful mission