Nimbus 5

  1972-097A

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Nimbus E was the first Nimbus satellite to be launched on a Delta. The Delta model 0900 launch vehicle ignited at 0756 on 1972 Dec 11; 35 seconds later the solid motors separated. Stage 1 separation occurred at T+3 min 48 sec, followed by a 3 min 52 sec Delta stage burn into transfer orbit, achieved at 0805 UT. At 0853 the Delta stage re-ignited to circularize the orbit, and separated from the payload at 0857. Nimbus E was now Nimbus 5, in a 1089 x 1102 km x 100.0 deg orbit. The Delta stage made two test burns and ended up in a more eccentric 1105 x 1528 km orbit. Nimbus 5 carried on sending back data until 1983 Apr 1.

Nimbus 5
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1972 Dec 11	0756:00	Launch by Delta 0900	V
		SRM sep
		T+3:53 MECO
		T+3:48? St 1 sep
		T+4m? SES-1 5:12
	0805?	SECO-1	180? x 1100? x 99
	0853	T+57:05 SES-2 12s
	0853	SECO-2
	0857	St 2 sep	106.87 1062 x 1101 x 99.9
	0912?	SES-3 experimental
	0912?	SECO-3
	0927?	SES-4 experimental
	0927?	SECO-4	1102 x 1519 x 99.8 (Delta)
1972 Dec 11			106.87 1062 x 1101 x 99.9
1983 Apr 1		End of ops