Launch Failure
Liftoff Time (GMT)
02:22:00
Tuesday July 15, 1980
Final flight of Long Tank Thor. The failure was attributed to faulty connections between the second and third stages, resulting in the third stage not receiving electrical power.
DMSP-5D1 (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Block 5D1) was the ninth version of the military meteorological satellites of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. These version was also known as AMS (Advanced Meteorological Satellite). This series introduced a new 3-axis stabilized bus with integrated propulsion system, so that the satellite itself acted as an upper stage for the launch vehicle. It consisted of a Star-37XE and a Star-37S motor and the ISS (Integrated Stage System) control system featuring four axial hydrazine thrusters. Power was supplied by a single, articulated 8-segmented solar array.
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
1 Payload
513 kilograms
31st
Mission
1st
Mission of 1980
62nd
Orbital launch attempt