Wednesday, January 10, 1996

Vortex 12

 1988-077A


In contrast to VORTEX 11, it appears that VORTEX 12 (USA 31) failed to reach its final orbit, and six years later a number of debris objects in transfer orbit were cataloged as coming from the 1988-77 launch. The Transtage was damaged during ascent, and the fuel tank leaked in parking orbit. The He tank leaked during the first burn. At the second burn, the He had been depleted and the restart failed.

The UN registered orbit was an unphysical 99.8, 151 x 14103 km x 29.3 deg; probably the apogee was missing a decimal point. Later debris objects were registered in a 465 x 39449 km x 26.7 deg orbit.


VORTEX 12 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1988 Sep 2  1205:02  Launch by Titan 3D/Transtage (34D-3) CC 
  T+1:50 Stage 1 ignition 
  T+2:02 SRM sep 
  T+4:35 St 1 sep 
 1209 T+4:45 Fairing sep 
 1209:51  T+4:49 Transtage damaged, leak 
 1213?  Stage 2 MECO  99.8 151 x 1410.3? x 29.3 
 1213 T+8:05 Stage 2 sep 
 1229?  Transtage burn 1 (310s)  161 x 35888 x 26.7? 
   708.9 465 x 39449 x 26.7 (D) 
  Coast (5h15m) 
 1800? Transtage failed to restart 
 1815?  Transtage sep 

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