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Vela 5A
A USAF reconnaissance satellite to detect land-based nuclear explosions. Vela 5A was launched on May 23, 1969 aboard a Titan IIIC from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: left Earth orbit for deep space (Jul 1, 1984).
COSPAR 1969-046DNORAD 3954United States
Identity
- Name in GCAT
- Vela V-A
- Common name
- Vela 5A
- Payload designation
- Vela 5A
- Other names
- FTV 6909
- International designator
- 1969-046D
- NORAD catalog number
- 3954
- GCAT identifier
- S03954
- UN registration
- A/AC.105/INF.211
Mission
- Mission type
- Missile early warning
- Use
- Defense
- Program
- Vela
- Owner
- SAMSO
- Country
- United States
- Builder
- TRW Inc.
- Platform (bus)
- Vela
Launch
- Date
- May 23, 1969 · 07:57 UTC
- Launch record
- 1969-046Success
- Rocket
- Titan IIIC
- Spaceport
- Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad LC41
Orbit and fate
- Orbit class (GCAT)
- VHEO
- Perigee
- 110,891 km
- Apogee
- 111,955 km
- Inclination
- 33.13°
- Status
- Left Earth orbit for deep space
- Status date
- July 1, 1984
- Last known active
- Sep 27, 1984
- End of operations
- Sep 27, 1984
Size
- Mass
- 250 kg
- Dry mass
- 250 kg
- Total mass with attached objects
- 348 kg
- Length
- 1.3 m
- Diameter
- 1.30 m
- Span
- 1.3 m
Deep space
- Deep-space catalog entry
- D00648
- Final central body
- Earth
- Phase start
- July 1, 1984
- Phase outcome
- In orbit
Launched together
Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q83277223 (CC0).