NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

DSAP-4B F2

Launch Time
Wed Oct 23, 1968 04:34 UTC

Rocket

Thor LV2D Burner-2
US Air Force
Status: Retired
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 3

Mission Details

DSAP-4B F2

DSAP-4B (Defense Satellite Application Program Block 4B) was the sixth version of the military meteorological satellites of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program.

The DSAP-4B satellites, slightly larger than their predecessors, was 30 inches in diameter, 29 inches high, and weighed 175 pounds. Still spin-stabilized, the satellite nonetheless provided improved weather coverage. They were a slightly improved version of the Block 4a satellite.

Previously, the single 1/2-inch focal length RCA vidicon television camera in Block 1 and Block 2 satellites furnished a nadir resolution of 3-to-4 nautical miles (nm) over an 800 nm swath, with significant gaps in coverage of the Earth at the equator.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 51.0 kg
Sun-Synchronous Orbit

Location

SLC-10W (75-2-6), Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Stats

1968

100th orbital launch attempt

Thor-Burner

13th mission
2nd mission of 1968
11th successful mission
8th consecutive successful mission