1982-072A
General Electric was given a contract to develop a new series of Landsat satellites. Landsat D used Fairchild's MMS bus (also used for Solar Max). Landsat D (Landsat 4) was launched at 1759 on 1982 Jul 16 by Delta 3920 from Vandenberg. The Delta reached transfer orbit at 1810, and restarted for a 13 second circularization burn at 1853. Landsat 4 separated into a 699 x 714 km x 98.3 deg orbit. The MMS had its own propulsive capability and by Aug 1 the orbit had been refined to 702 x 706 km. The orbit had a 0945LT equator crossing.
Landsat 4 was turned over to NOAA in Feb 1983; meanwhile on 1983 Feb 15 the thematic mapper instrument failed. In 1985 operations were transferred to EOSAT (although the government retained ownership, via NOAA until 1998 when USGS took over the contract management). In Oct 1993 the satellite was inactive but still transmitting. The satellite was finally retired in Jun 2001.
| Landsat 4 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 Jul 16 | 1759 | Launch by Delta 3920 | |
| T+0:57 SRM 1-6 off | |||
| T+1:08 SRM 1-6 sep | |||
| T+2:03 SRM 7-9 sep | |||
| T+3:46 MECO | |||
| T+3:54 St 1 sep | |||
| 1803 | T+4:00 SES-1 6:50 | ||
| 1803 | T+4:05 Fairing | ||
| 1809 | T+10:51 SECO-1 | 150? x 700 x 98.3 | |
| 1810 | T+11:40 coast attitude | ||
| 1847 | T+48:11 SES-2 14.6s | ||
| 1847 | T+48:26 SECO-2 | ||
| 1852 | T+53:17 St 2 sep | 98.93 699 x 714 x 98.3 | |
| 1937? | SES-3 depletion | 95.15 357 x 694 x 101.8 | |
| 1982 Jul 17 | 684 x 700 x 98.3 | ||
| 1982 Jul 26 | Orbit raise | ||
| 1982 Jul 27 | 701 x 703 x 98.3 | ||
| 1982 Aug 1 | 702 x 706 x 98.3 | ||
| 1985 Sep 27 | Operations to EOSAT | ||
| 2001 Jun 5 | 98.83 698 x 707 x 98.3 | ||
| 2001 Jun 7 | 97.97 659 x 664 x 98.3 | ||
| 2001 Jun 14 | 96.81 594 x 618 x 98.3 | ||
| 2001 Jun 15 | Decommissioned | 96.48 583 x 597 x 98.3 | |
