Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

08:20:00

Saturday February 24, 1979

Mission Details

Solwind

Wiki

P78-1 was the first satellite in space to discover a comet in general and a sungrazing comet in particular. In total, 9 sungrazing comets, all belonging to the Kreutz group, were discovered on images taken by the Solwind coronagraph. The satellite operated until it was destroyed in orbit on September 13, 1985, to test the ASM-135 ASAT anti-satellite missile.

Polar Orbit

1 Payload

1,331 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Atlas-E/F OIS

Active 1979 to 1985


Payload to Orbit

LEO: 870 kg

Stages

2

Launch Site

SLC-3W

Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Fastest Turnaround

17 days 21 hours

Stats

Atlas-OIS


1st

Mission

1st

Mission of 1979

1979


18th

Orbital launch attempt