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LCS 1, 2, 3, 4
LCS satellite [Lincoln Laboratory]
LCS (Lincoln Calibration Sphere) were hollow metal spheres with a precisely defined radar cross-section to calibrate ground based radars.
The satellites were manufactured at Rohr Corp., Chula Vista, California, for the Lincoln Laboratory. They consisted of a 1.12 m diameter hollow Aluminium sphere with a optical unit cross section of 1 m² and a wall thickness of 3.2 mm.
LCS 1 was successfully launched on a Titan-3A on 6th May 1965. It was deployed in a circular orbit of about 2700 km height and a life time of about 30000 years.
The second satellite, LCS 2, was lost on 15th October 1965, when the Transtage upper stage of the Titan-3C launch vehicle exploded in low earth orbit, before it could be deployed in a 735 km circular orbit.
LCS 3 also was lost in a launch failure on 16th August 1968, when the payload fairing of the Atlas-SLV3 Burner-2 collapsed.
LCS 4 was successfully orbited on 7th August 1971 on an Atlas-F OV1 launch vehicle. This satellite is in a low earth orbit with a life time of about 75 years.
The LCS 1 and LCS 4 satellites are still being used for radar calibration measurements.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Radar Calibration |
| Operator: | MIT Lincoln Laboratory |
| Contractors: | Rohr Corp. |
| Equipment: | None |
| Configuration: | Sphere |
| Propulsion: | None |
| Power: | None |
| Lifetime: | ~ 30000 years (#1); ~75 years (#4) |
| Mass: | 34 kg (#1) |
| Orbit: | 2704 km × 2869 km, 32.1° (#1); 735 km × 735 km, 32.6° (#2, planned); 795 km × 913 km, 87.6° (#4) |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCS 1 | 1965-034C | 06.05.1965 | CC LC-20 | Titan-3A [Star-13A] | with LES 2 | |
| LCS 2 | 1965-082B | 15.10.1965 | CC LC-40 | f | Titan-3C | with OV2 1 |
| LCS 3 (P68-1) | 1968-F07 | 16.08.1968 | Va SLC-3E | F | Atlas-SLV3 Burner-2 | with Orbiscal 1, OV5 8, Gridsphere 1, Gridsphere 2, Mylar Balloon, Rigidsphere, LIDOS, RM 18 & UVR, Radcat, SECOR 11, SECOR 12 |
| LCS 4 (P70-2) | 1971-067E | 07.08.1971 | Va BMRS-A2 | Atlas-F OV1 [Star-13A] | with OV1 20, LOADS 2 and OV1 21, RTDS, Gridsphere 1, Gridsphere 2, Mylar Balloon, Rigidsphere |
