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| Taurus - Taurus - COSPAR 1994-017 9,939 bytes. 82 x 438 pixels. |
Pad-launched launch vehicle using Pegasus upper stages and Castor-120 first stage. First launch used slightly larger Peacekeeper ICBM first stage instead of Castor-120.
Launches: 5. Failures: 0. Success Rate: 100.00% pct. First Launch Date: 13 March 1994. Last Launch Date: 12 March 2000. LEO Payload: 1,363 kg. to: 185 km Orbit. at: 28.5 degrees. Payload: 431 kg. to a: Geosynchronous transfer trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 131,180 kgf. Total Mass: 73,030 kg. Core Diameter: 2.4 m. Total Length: 27.9 m. Launch Price $: 20.00 million. in 1999 price dollars.
GPS receiver and data processor technology tests. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).
Space Test Experiment Program; 10 satellite subsystem experiments. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Altimeter.
Plane G. Ascending node 297.9 degrees.
Plane G. Ascending node 298.1 degrees.
Tested TAL-D55 plasma engine. Also was part of the NRO's ATeX advanced tether experiment, which reportedly failed on January 16. The ATeX lower end mass was meant to remain attached to the STEX parent spacecraft, but with only 21 m of tether deployed, it appeared the tether was so far off vertical that automatic safety systems jettisoned the base to protect the remainder of the STEX satellite. Thus,the upper and lower ATeX end masses were in orbit as one object connected by a 21 m tether, and designated USA 141 (1998-055C). The main STEX satellite was in orbit as a separate object, 1998-055A.
Remained attached to STEX.
 | Taurus Credit: Orbital Sciences Corporation. 12,987 bytes. 301 x 448 pixels. |
Measured the integrated solar energy output from 0.2 to 2 microns. Carried instrument deleted from Terra spacecraft.
Korean Multipurpose Satellite; carried an ocean color sensor developed by TRW and particle detectors. KOMPSAT was built by the Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) based on a test model built by TRW; it used the TRW STEP Lightsat bus and had a mass of around 500 kg, with 73 kg of hydrazine fuel.
Sandia Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI), aka USAF Space Test Program mission P97-3. The satellite was equipped with a hyperspectral imager for military target recognition / treaty monitoring applications.