CAT-2, Amsat P3A & Firewheel

Launch Failure

Liftoff Time (GMT)

14:29:00

Friday May 23, 1980

Mission Details

Launch Notes

The launch ended in failure shortly after liftoff due to combustion instability in one of the Viking first-stage engines. Flight L02.

CAT-2

Wiki

The CAT (Capsule Ariane Technologique) payloads were instrumented vehicle evaluation payloads on the first four Ariane-1 flights. CAT consisted of a cylindrical section, which carried the instruments for vibration, acceleration, sound, and launch environment. They were battery-powered with a lifetime of about 6 days. The CAT payloads could be topped by ballast or adaptor section. CAT 1 carried a truncated cone ballast. CAT 2 was similar, but carried also the Firewheel satellite on top of the ballast section and the AMSAT P3A satellite side mounted.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

334 kilograms

Amsat P3A

Wiki

AMSAT P3A (Phase 3A) was the first satellite of AMSAT Phase 3. It was developed in the 70s by AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-NA. It carried a communication payload consisting of 50 Watt Mode-B (435 MHz → 146 MHz) linear transponders. The satellite was inserted in a highly eccentric 12-hour Molniya-orbit by its onboard Star-13C kick motor.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

75 kilograms

Firewheel & Subsat-1 to 4

Wiki

The Firewheel spacecraft was designed to make barium and lithium-ion releases in the night magnetosphere at 9.5 and 7 Re, respectively, and over North and South America. The main spacecraft was to carry 12 ejectable ion release containers. Diagnostic measurements were to be made on the main spacecraft and on four ejectable sub-payloads. These sub-payloads total approximately 200 kg (~50 kg each). Optical measurements were to be made from the ground and from aircraft.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

1,073 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Ariane 1

Active 1979 to 1986

European Space Agency logo

Agency

ESA

Rocket

Diameter: 3.8m

Height: 47.4m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 4,850 kg

GTO: 1,850 kg

Liftoff Thrust

2,772 Kilonewtons

Stages

4

Launch Site

ELA-1

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France

Fastest Turnaround

55 days 10 hours

Stats

Ariane 1


2nd

Mission

1st

Mission of 1980

European Space Agency


2nd

Mission

1st

Mission of 1980

1980


41st

Orbital launch attempt