Tuesday, June 18, 2002

Canyon 6

  1975-055A


CANYON 6 was another launch that caused much confusion. Some initial press reports gave the launch vehicle as a Titan IIIC, and this error was propagated into the 1990s by the RAE Tables, although the TRW Space Log (1975 and subsequent editions) consistently gave the correct identification. The confusion over the launch vehicle caused observers to speculate that the satellite was the first of a new generation, possibly the CIA ARGUS or Advanced Rhyolite satellite (now thought to have been cancelled). It was clearly a signals intelligence payload because of the secrecy surrounding the launch, and until recently the Rhyolite series was the only such contemporary geostationary payload known.


CANYON 6 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1975 Jun 18  0900:00  Launch by Atlas Agena D  CC LC13 
  BECO 
  Atlas sep 
 0905?  Agena MES-1 
 0910?  Agena MECO-1 190 x 190 x 28.5?  
 0925?  Agena MES-2 
  Agena MECO-2  190 x 40000 x 28.5? 
 1530?  Agena MES-3 
  Agena MECO-3  1422.0 30200 x 40800 x 9.0 
 1600? Agena sep  1416.0 29700 x 40400 x 8.0

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