United States Air ForceTitan 401A CentaurSpace Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Mercury 15
Launched
April 24, 1996
Summary
Mercury 15 launched on an United States Air Force Titan 401A Centaur from Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on April 24, 1996. It was United States Air Force's 964th launch, 6th this year and humanity's 4,068th orbital launch attempt. It was the 7th Titan 401A Centaur flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Geostationary Orbit (Direct-GEO). 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Titan 401A Centaur · United States Air Force
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Geostationary Orbit (Direct-GEO)
- Milestone
- 7th Titan 401A Centaur flight · 1st this yearUnited States Air Force's 964th launch6th this yearhumanity's 4,068th orbital launch attempt27th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Catalogued objects
2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage; 2 still in orbit
- USA 118 · NORAD 23855 · in orbit
Centaur TC-15 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
The Mercury (MC) series, although known to the public as 'Advanced Vortex', are the latest generation of USAF ELINT/SIGINT satellites. They were focussed on communications intelligence (COMINT), focused at strategic level communications, but had the capability added to intercept also missile telemetry. These satellites were launched under the designation Program 7500 and were part of NRO's Program A.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
24th launch from Space Launch Complex 41, 1st this year · 512th from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
125 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
289 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Mercury 15 launch?
Mercury 15 launched on April 24, 1996. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Mercury 15?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Mercury 15?
Titan 401A Centaur, flown by United States Air Force. Titan 401A Centaur spec sheet
Where did Mercury 15 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.
What orbit was Mercury 15 going to?
Geostationary Orbit (Direct-GEO), a government/top secret mission.
How many satellites did Mercury 15 launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).