United States Air ForceAtlas LV-3 Agena BSpace Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Samos 3
Launched
September 9, 1961
Image: NASA
Summary
Samos 3 launched on an United States Air Force Atlas LV-3 Agena B from Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on September 9, 1961. The mission failed. It was United States Air Force's 58th launch, 20th this year and humanity's 124th orbital launch attempt. It was the 4th Atlas LV-3 Agena B flight. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO).
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Atlas LV-3 Agena B · United States Air Force
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 4th Atlas LV-3 Agena B flightUnited States Air Force's 58th launch20th this yearhumanity's 124th orbital launch attempt31st orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Samos 3 was a US Air Force Samos-E2 electro-optical reconnaissance satellite with a 91 cm camera intended to transmit images from orbit. A late-detaching umbilical cut power to the Atlas at liftoff; the rocket settled back onto the pad and exploded.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
3rd launch from Space Launch Complex 3W, 2nd this year · 33rd from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
81 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
220 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Samos 3 launch?
Samos 3 launched on September 9, 1961. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Samos 3?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Samos 3?
Atlas LV-3 Agena B, flown by United States Air Force. Atlas LV-3 Agena B spec sheet
Where did Samos 3 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 3W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was Samos 3 going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a government/top secret mission.