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Orbital Sciences CorporationPegasus XL HAPSWallops Flight Facility, Air launch to orbit

Orbcomm-C1 - C8

Launched

September 23, 1998

Launch Successful

Image: NASA/Laurie Losey

Summary

Orbcomm C1-C8 launched on an Orbital Sciences Corporation Pegasus XL HAPS from Wallops Flight Facility, Air launch to orbit on September 23, 1998. It was Orbital Sciences Corporation's 25th launch, 5th this year and humanity's 4,265th orbital launch attempt. It was the 3rd Pegasus XL HAPS flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Orbcomm C1, one of 10 catalogued objects, reached a 818 × 829 km orbit inclined 45.0°. 10 objects from this launch are catalogued, 8 of them payloads.

Watch
No webcast on record.
Vehicle
Pegasus XL HAPS · Orbital Sciences Corporation
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Communications · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Milestone
3rd Pegasus XL HAPS flight · 2nd this yearOrbital Sciences Corporation's 25th launch5th this yearhumanity's 4,265th orbital launch attempt58th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

45.0°Inclination
818 × 829 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
101.2 minPeriodfrom mean elements
236.2°Ascending node
10250 d agoElement epoch1998-09-23 06:13 UTC · stale

Orbcomm C1 · NORAD 25475 · 1998-053 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 10 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
ORBCOMM FM 21
Object ID
1998-053A
Epoch
1998-09-23 06:13:24 UTC
Mean motion
14.22658844 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.0007231
Inclination
45.0106°
Ascending node
236.1831°
Arg. of perigee
88.103°
Mean anomaly
272.0642°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
1
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Catalogued objects

10 catalogued: 8 payloads, 2 rocket stages; 9 still in orbit

  • Orbcomm C1 · NORAD 25475 · in orbit
  • Orbcomm C2 · NORAD 25476 · in orbit
  • Orbcomm C3 · NORAD 25477 · in orbit
  • Orbcomm C4 · NORAD 25478 · in orbit
  • Orbcomm C5 · NORAD 25479 · in orbit
  • Orbcomm C6 · NORAD 25480 · in orbit
  • Orbcomm C7 · NORAD 25481 · in orbit
  • Orbcomm C8 · NORAD 25482 · in orbit

Pegasus F23 Stage 3 · re-entered November 7, 1998

Pegasus F23 Stage 4 · in orbit

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

Eight Orbcomm data-messaging satellites launched together into a 45-degree low Earth orbit for Orbcomm's global machine-to-machine communications constellation.

Pad

Map of Wallops Flight Facility

Wallops Flight Facility, Air launch to orbit

5th launch from Wallops Flight Facility, 2nd this year · 22nd from Air launch to orbit

6 launches from this pad · 52 from Air launch to orbit

51 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Air launch to orbitOpen in maps

Questions

When did Orbcomm C1-C8 launch?

Orbcomm C1-C8 launched on September 23, 1998. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch Orbcomm C1-C8?

No webcast is on record for this launch.

What rocket launched Orbcomm C1-C8?

Pegasus XL HAPS, flown by Orbital Sciences Corporation. Pegasus XL HAPS spec sheet

Where did Orbcomm C1-C8 launch from?

Wallops Flight Facility, Air launch to orbit.

What orbit did Orbcomm C1-C8 reach?

Orbcomm C1, one of 10 catalogued objects, reached a 818 × 829 km orbit inclined 45.0°.

How many satellites did Orbcomm C1-C8 launch?

8 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 8 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).