Surcal 2, 3, 4, 5

Surcal 5 [NRL]

Surcal (Surveilance Calibration) satellites to calibrate the Naval Space Surveillance (NavSpaSur) system. They were produced in cooperation with the NRL group who had designed and developed the NavSpaSur system.

NAVSPASUR was the successor to NRL's innovative Vanguard tracking system, the Minitrack. Launched between 1962 and 1965, the SURCALs were built in different shapes and sizes. In contrast to Surcal 1, they were designed as free-flyers.

Surcal 5 operated for mor than 7 years.

Nation: USA
Type / Application: Calibration
Operator: NRL
Contractors: NRL
Equipment:
Configuration:
Propulsion: ?
Power: Solar cells, batteries
Lifetime:
Mass: ?
Orbit:
Satellite Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Surcal 2 13.12.1962 Va 75-1-1 P Thor-DM21 Agena-D with Poppy 1A, Poppy 1B, Injun 3, Calsphere 1
Surcal 3 15.06.1963 Va 75-1-1 P Thor-DM21 Agena-D with Poppy 2A (Solrad 6), Poppy 2B, Poppy 2C (RADOSE), LOFTI 2B
Surcal 4 09.03.1965 Va 75-1-2 Thor-DM21 Agena-D with Poppy 4A (Solrad 7B), Poppy 4B, Poppy 4C (GGSE 2), Poppy 4D (GGSE 3), SECOR 3, Dodecapole 1, Oscar 3
Surcal 5 13.08.1965 Va 75-1-1 Thor-DSV2A Able-Star with Transit-O 5, Tempsat 1, Dodecapole 2, Long Rod, Calsphere 2
Further Surcal missions: