Explorer 53

  1975-037A

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SAS C became Small Astronomical Satellite 3 (Explorer 53) shortly before launch. The spacecraft carried a number of x-ray astronomy experiments. SAS 3 was launched at 2245 on 1975 May 7 by Scout F-1 from San Marco into a 94.5 min, 499 x 508 km x 3.0 deg orbit. It operated until reentry on 1979 Apr 9.

SAS 3
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1975 May 7	2245:01	Launch
		T+1:23 St 1 burnout
		T+1:24 St 1 sep, St 2 burn
		T+2:02 St 2 burnout
		T+2:28 heat shield sep
		T+2:30 St 2 sep, St 3 burn
		T+2:59 St 3 burnout, coast
		T+9:30 Spinup
		T+9:31 St 3 sep
	2254:37	T+9:36 St 4 burn
	2255:12	T+10:11 St 4 burnout
	2259	T+14:04 despin
	2300	T+15:05 Stage 4 sep
1979 Apr 9		Reentered