ESSA-3
ESSA-3 (or TOS-A) was a spin-stabilized operational meteorological satellite. Its name was derived from that of its oversight agency, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA).
| Mission type | Weather satellite |
|---|---|
| Operator | ESSA/NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 1966-087A |
| SATCAT no. | 2435 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | RCA Astro |
| Launch mass | 145 kilograms (320 lb)[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | October 2, 1966, 10:34 UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Delta C |
| Launch site | Vandenberg LC-2E |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Decommissioned |
| Deactivated | December 2, 1968 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Eccentricity | 0.00703 |
| Perigee altitude | 1,383 kilometers (859 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 1,493 kilometers (928 mi) |
| Inclination | 100.9° |
| Period | 114.6 minutes |
| Epoch | October 2, 1966 |
TOS | |
Launch
ESSA-3 was launched on October 2, 1966 at 10:34 UTC. It was launched atop a Delta rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The spacecraft had a mass of 132 kilograms (291 lb) at the time of launch. ESSA-3 had an inclination of 100.9°, and an orbited the earth once every 114 minutes. Its perigee was 1,383 kilometers (859 mi) and its apogee was 1,493 kilometers (928 mi).
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References
- "ESSA 3". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
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