Nov 18 1978
From The Space Library
NASA announced launch of Nato 3C, third and last in a series of defense-related comsats, at 7:46pm EST from ETR on a Delta into a synchronous transfer orbit, where it would gradually approach station at 50° W over the equator above the Atlantic. Early orbit parameters were 35 891km apogee, 184.5km perigee, and 27.2° inclination. The Ford Aerospace-built drum-shaped craft covered with a cylindrical solar array and weighing 346kg without its apogee kick motor would transmit voice, data, facsimile, and telex messages among military ground stations, serving as backup for Nato 3A and 3B launched in Apr. 1976 and Jan. 1977, respectively. NATO would reimburse NASA $8.9 million for launch services, including the vehicle. Mission life was 7yr. (MOR M-492-207-78-03 [prelaunch] Nov 15/78, [postlaunch] Feb 5/79; NASA Actv, Nov 20/78; Spacewarn Spx-301 [gives date as Nov 19/78, 0046UT])
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