United States Air ForceAtlas LV-3 Agena BSpace Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Samos 5
Launched
December 22, 1961
Image: NASA
Summary
Samos 5 launched on an United States Air Force Atlas LV-3 Agena B from Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on December 22, 1961. The mission was a partial failure. It was United States Air Force's 71st launch, 33rd this year and humanity's 142nd orbital launch attempt. It was the 8th 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
- 8th Atlas LV-3 Agena B flightUnited States Air Force's 71st launch33rd this yearhumanity's 142nd orbital launch attempt49th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Samos 5 was a US Air Force Samos-E5 film-return reconnaissance satellite. The Atlas sustainer engine failed to cut off on time and burned to propellant depletion, placing the satellite in a much higher orbit than planned; its capsule could not be recovered.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
3rd launch from Space Launch Complex 3E, 3rd this year · 44th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
48 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
62 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Samos 5 launch?
Samos 5 launched on December 22, 1961. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Samos 5?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Samos 5?
Atlas LV-3 Agena B, flown by United States Air Force. Atlas LV-3 Agena B spec sheet
Where did Samos 5 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit was Samos 5 going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a government/top secret mission.