Thor Delta | Echo 1

Launch information

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Mission description

The Echo 1A spacecraft was a 30.48 m diameter balloon of mylar polyester film 0.0127 mm thick. The spacecraft was designed as a passive communications reflector for transcontinental and intercontinental telephone (voice), radio, and television signals. It had 107.9 MHz beacon transmitters for telemetry purposes. These transmitters were powered by five nickel-cadmium batteries that were charged by 70 solar cells mounted on the balloon. Because of the large area-to-mass ratio of the spacecraft, data for the calculation of atmospheric density and solar pressure could be acquired. The spacecraft was also used to evaluate the technical feasibility of satellite triangulation during the latter portion of its life. Echo 1 failed during the coast period after launch, as the attitude control jets on the second stage failed and the spacecraft did not achieve orbit. Echo 1A was a successful relaunch.

Launch status

Launch status information for space mission ‘Thor Delta | Echo 1’.

Launch image Thor Delta | Echo 1

Success

Status: Launch Successful

Class: normal

Launch T0: Aug. 12, 1960, 9:39 a.m.

Timezone: America/New_York

Launch authority

Details about the the rocket, its target orbit and the launch pad location.

Mission

Echo 1 (Elliptical)

Launcher

United States Air Force

Rocket

Thor Delta

Location

Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Pad

Space Launch Complex 17A

Type

Communications

Orbit

Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical)

Satellites on-board

Satellites on-board the space mission ‘Thor Delta | Echo 1’ are identified by cross checking database entries for launches and satellites. Results could be inaccurate from time to time.

Number Name Orbit Inclination Country/Organization Status
49 ECHO 1 LEO 47.19 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Decayed

Launch statistics

Tracking key statistics for space mission ‘Thor Delta | Echo 1’, classified in stats relative to the specific mission launch year or to all-time values.

Orbital Launch

#72

To this date

Location Launch

#40

To this date

Pad Launch

#9

To this date

Agency Launch

#24

To this date

Orbital Launch

#18

Year 1960

Location Launch

#10

Year 1960

Pad Launch

#4

Year 1960

Agency Launch

#13

Year 1960

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