NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Thrusted Vector Experiment (USA-30)

Launch Time
Mon Feb 08, 1988 22:07 UTC

Rocket

Delta 3910
Image Credit: USAF or NASA
US Air Force
Status: Retired
Payload to GTO: 1,154 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 9

Mission Details

Thrusted Vector Experiment (USA-30)

TVE (Thrusted Vector Experiment), a.k.a. Delta 181, was the second Delta / SDI mission. Delta 181 involved the placement of a Delta second stage in low-Earth orbit, but it included the deployment of two payloads as the object of a series of experiments in orbit. One of the payloads was a plume generator package (SPX) with a Star-13A motor, and the other was a science package containing eight test objects and four reference objects. A sensor module, consisting of a command and data handling system and seven scientific experiments, remained with the Delta's second stage to scan elements of both packages once they were deployed.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 1,800.0 kg

Location

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

Stats

1988

9th orbital launch attempt

Delta 3000 Series

37th mission
1st mission of 1988
35th successful mission
4th consecutive successful mission