1962-068A
The NASA A-15 payload was launched on 1962 Dec 13 from Cape Canaveral and named Relay I on successfully reaching its 1322 x 7439 km x 47.5 deg orbit. After initial communications malfunctions, it started operations on Dec 27 and was successfully used for communications experiments until 1965 Feb 10. Remarkably, intermittent transmissions were reported from the payload in March 1981. Relay was 78 kg, 0.81m dia, height 1.3m including rod antenna. This launch was the first to use the uprated AJ10-118D second stage.
| Relay 1 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 Dec 13 | 2330:01 | Launch by Delta DSV-3B-1 | CC LC17A |
| 2332:29 | T+2:27 MECO | ||
| 2332 | Thor sep | ||
| 2332:32 | T+2:31 Delta S/N 20001 burn, 2:44 | ||
| 2332:53 | T+2:52 Fairing | ||
| 2335:16 | T+5:16 Delta SECO | -3350? x 1300 x 47.8? | |
| -2944 x 1300 x 38.2? | |||
| 15 min coast | |||
| 2348:21 | T+18:20 Delta sep | ||
| 2348:34 | T+18:33 Altair SV-22 burn | ||
| 2349:13 | T+19:12 Altair burnout | ||
| 2351? | Altair sep | 185.08 1300 x 7459 x 47.77 | |
| 1322 x 7439 x 47.5 | |||
| 1965 Feb 10 | End of tx | ||
