NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Partial Failure

ATS-4

Launch Time
Sat Aug 10, 1968 22:33 UTC

Centaur stage failed to restart due to an oxidizer leak. Payload inserted into the wrong orbit.

Rocket

Atlas-SLV3C Centaur-D
Image Credit: USAF or NASA
General Dynamics
Status: Retired
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0

Mission Details

ATS-4

The Applications Technology Satellites (ATS) were a series of experimental satellites launched by NASA, under the supervision of, among others, Wernher von Braun. The program was launched in 1966 to test the feasibility of placing a satellite into geosynchronous orbit.

Payloads: 1
Geostationary Earth Orbit

Location

SLC-36A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

1968

74th orbital launch attempt

Atlas-Centaur

16th mission
2nd mission of 1968