United States Air ForceThor Delta ESpace Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
ESSA 3
Launched
October 2, 1966
Image: NASA
Summary
ESSA 3 launched on an United States Air Force Thor Delta E from Space Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on October 2, 1966. It was United States Air Force's 354th launch, 55th this year and humanity's 615th orbital launch attempt. It was the 4th Thor Delta E flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO). 6 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Thor Delta E · United States Air Force
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Earth Science · Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)
- Milestone
- 4th Thor Delta E flight · 2nd this yearUnited States Air Force's 354th launch55th this yearhumanity's 615th orbital launch attempt98th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Catalogued objects
6 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage, 4 components; 6 still in orbit
- ESSA 3 · NORAD 2435 · in orbit
Delta 41 Stage 3 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
The ESSA series was the second generation of US meterological satellites after the TIROS (Television & Infra-Red Observation Satellite) series. They were also called OT (Operational TIROS), TOS (TIROS Operational Satellite).
Pad
Space Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
28th launch from Space Launch Complex 2E, 3rd this year · 235th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
47 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
100 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did ESSA 3 launch?
ESSA 3 launched on October 2, 1966. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch ESSA 3?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched ESSA 3?
Thor Delta E, flown by United States Air Force. Thor Delta E spec sheet
Where did ESSA 3 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was ESSA 3 going to?
Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO), a earth science mission.
How many satellites did ESSA 3 launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).