Feb 21 1981
From The Space Library
NASA launched Comstar-D, last of a series of four domestic communications satellites built by Hughes Aircraft for Comsat General, from KSC at 6:23 p.m. EST on an Atlas Centaur into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The 6.1-mile (20-foot) high cylinder called Comstar 4 in orbit, weighing 1,516 kilograms (3,342 pounds) at launch, had 12 transponders (channels), each capable of relaying 1,500 two-way voice circuits (overall capability of 18,000 simultaneous high-quality two-way phone transmissions). A postlaunch report said the apogee motor firing February 23 was successful. (NASA Release 81-27; NASA MOR-O-491-201-81-04 [prelaunch summary] Feb 10-12/81, [prelaunch] Feb 17/81, [postlaunch] June 17/81; NASA Dly Actv Rpt, Feb 24/81, Feb 25/81; Comsat Gnl Release 81-6; D/SD, Feb 25/81, 286; Feb 26/81, 294; AID, Feb 26/81, 292; Spacewarn, Mar 31/81, 2)
FBIS reported the launch at 9:30 a.m. local time of Astro-A, a scientific experimental satellite, by the University of Tokyo's Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science. The launch from Kagoshima had been postponed twice, from February 18 to 19 and again to February 21, because of rain. NASAs Space Tracking and Data Network (STDN) supported both this launch and that of Comsat 4.
Called Hinotori (fire bird) in orbit, the new satellite was Japan's 22d object to orbit and its 7th scientific satellite. It was the heaviest (190 kilograms) ever launched on the MU-3S rocket. In an elliptical orbit with 695-kilometer apogee, 568-kilometer perigee, and 37-minute period, Hinotori would study X-rays, gamma rays, and other aspects of solar flares. Its data would be of particular value because the Solar Max satellite launched by the United States in February 1980 on a similar mission was having instrument trouble. (FBIS, Kyodo in English, Feb 21/81; NASA Dly Actv Rpt, Feb 23/81)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
