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Launch SuccessfulUnited States Air Force

Atlas SLV-3C Centaur: ATS 5

ATS-5, the last spacecraft in the Hughes/NASA ATS program, was launched August 12, 1969, in a near-perfect trajectory for insertion into synchronous orbit. Although injected successfully into orbit, the spacecraft's reverse spin (counterclockwise) prevented successful deployment of the 124 foot gravity gradient booms for the stabilization experiment. However nine of the other 13 experiments aboard the spacecraft returned useful data.

Tuesday, 12 August 1969
Atlas SLV-3C Centaur: ATS 5

Mission Data

United States Air Force
🇺🇸United States Air ForceEst. 1947
Launch VehicleAtlas SLV-3C Centaur
Vehicle FamilyAtlas
Vehicle Record15 of 17 launches (88.2%)
Provider TypeGovernment
Agency Record972 successes / 106 failures (90%)
Success Streak68 consecutive
Mission TypeEarth Science
Target OrbitGeosynchronous Orbit
Launch PadLaunch Complex 36A
Location🇺🇸 Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA USA
Orbital Launches This Year#81
Agency Launches This Year#28
Launches From This Pad71
Launches From This Site1,132
Status Note

The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).

About Atlas SLV-3C Centaur

The Atlas-Centaur was a US expendable launch vehicle derived from the SM-65 Atlas D missile. Launches were conducted from Launch Complex 36 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Launch Site

Launch Complex 36A · 28.4706°N 80.5422°W

Launch data from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs.