NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

ESSA-1

Launch Time
Thu Feb 03, 1966 07:41 UTC

Rocket

Delta C
Image Credit: USAF or NASA
US Air Force
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 667 kN
Payload to LEO: 410 kg
Payload to GTO: 82 kg
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 31.0 m

Mission Details

ESSA-1

ESSA 1 was a sun-synchronous operational meteorological satellite designed to provide real-time earth cloudcover TV pictures to properly equipped ground receiving stations for use in weather analysis and forecasting.
The satellite carried the APT (Automatic Picture Transmission) system with two redundant APT cameras with 2.54 cm diameter vidicons and 108° wide angle 1/1.8 objective lense with a focal length of 5.7 mm. The imaging system was programmed to take four or eight APT pictures per orbit

It was finally deactivated on June 12, 1968.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 138.0 kg
Sun-Synchronous Orbit

Location

SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

1966

9th orbital launch attempt

Delta C

9th mission
1st mission of 1966
7th successful mission
1st consecutive successful mission