Subscribe with SteadyRadcat (P68-1, P72-1)
Radcat (C) on Radsat
[USAF]
The Radcat (Radar Calibration Target) spacecrafts were cylindrical satellites to provide a passive optical and radar calibration target of about 5 m2 cross section.
The first of these satellites was lost in an cluster launch in 1968, when the oversized payload fairing of the Atlas-SLV3 Burner-2 launch vehicle collapsed.
A second one was successfully orbited in 1972 on an Atlas-F Burner-2 booster. it remained in orbit until 2 August 2012.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Calibration target |
| Operator: | |
| Contractors: | |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | |
| Propulsion: | None |
| Power: | None |
| Lifetime: | Passive |
| Mass: | 726 kg (#2) |
| Orbit: | 729 km × 746 km, 98.43 (#2) |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radcat (P68-1) | 1968-F07 | 16.08.1968 | Va SLC-3E | F | Atlas-SLV3 Burner-2 | with Orbiscal 1, OV5 8, Gridsphere 1, Gridsphere 2, Mylar Balloon, Rigidsphere, LCS 3, LIDOS, RM 18 & UVR, SECOR 11, SECOR 12 |
| Radcat 2 (P72-1) | 1972-076A | 02.10.1972 | Va BMRS-A1 | Atlas-F Burner-2 | with Radsat |
Launch Sites:
- Va = Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA
References:
- NSSDC Master Catalog: RADCAT 2
Further STP missions:
