1968-068A
ATS D (Applications Technology Satellite 4) was the second gravity gradient ATS test. The Hughes satellite included the SR-28-3 AKM and was intended for geostationary orbit, unlike ATS A. An Atlas Centaur launch vehicle was to have placed the satellite in geostationary transfer orbit of 664 x 35882 km x 16.2 deg. Atlas 5104C left pad 36A and fell away, followed by the first burn of Centaur AC-17, which inserted the ATS/Centaur combination into a 219 x 767 km x 29.0 deg parking orbit. However, AC-17 failed to reignite because of boost pump failure and remained attached to ATS IV. Three attempts to fire the AKM failed because the spacecraft was still attached. Some experiments returned limited data, confirming that they operated. The primary gravity booms were extended 10 meters. The ATS/AKM/Centaur combination reentered over the South Atlantic Ocean on 1968 Oct 17.
| ATS-4 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 Aug 10 | 2233:02 | Launch by Atlas Centaur | CC LC36A |
| T+2:32 BECO | |||
| T+2:35 Booster sep | |||
| T+3:17 Insulation panels sep | |||
| T+3:53 Fairing sep | |||
| T+4:06 SECO | |||
| T+4:08 Atlas sep | |||
| T+4:18 Centaur burn 1 | |||
| 2242:58 | T+9:56 Centaur MECO-1 | 94.13 186 x 767 x 29.14 | |
| 61 min coast | |||
| 2344:07 | T+1:11:05 Centaur burn 2 failed | ||
| 1968 Aug 11 | 94.54 221 x 771 x 29.1 | ||
| 1968 Sep 2 | 93.69 217 x 692 x 29.0 | ||
| 1968 Oct 17 | Reentered | ||
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