Radcat (C) on Radsat
[USAF]
The Radcat (Radar Calibration Target) spacecrafts were cylindrical satellites to provide a passive optical and radar calibration target of about 5 m2 cross section.
The first of these satellites was lost in an cluster launch in 1968, when the oversized payload fairing of the Atlas-SLV3 Burner-2 launch vehicle collapsed.
A second one was successfully orbited in 1972 on an Atlas-F Burner-2 booster. it remained in orbit until 2 August 2012.
Nation: | USA |
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Type / Application: | Calibration target |
Operator: | |
Contractors: | |
Equipment: | |
Configuration: | |
Propulsion: | None |
Power: | None |
Lifetime: | Passive |
Mass: | 726 kg (#2) |
Orbit: | 729 km × 746 km, 98.43° (#2) |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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Radcat (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, LCS 3, LIDOS, RM 18 & UVR, SECOR 11, SECOR 12 |
Radcat 2 (P72-1) | 1972-076A | 02.10.1972 | Va BMRS-A1 | Atlas-F Burner-2 | with Radsat |