1963-004A
The first Hughes Syncom payload, A-25 or Syncom A, carried 2 TWTs (Travelling Wave Tubes) operating at 2-8 GHz. Spacecraft telemetry was transmitted at 140 MHz. The spin stabilized satellite contained a Thiokol TE-375 solid apogee motor to circularize its orbit. Syncom was intended to reach a synchronous (24 hour period) orbit with an inclination of 33 degrees - such an orbit is not geostationary, as the ground track describes a figure of eight reaching north and south latitudes equal to the inclination.
Launch of Syncom I was at 0535 UT on 1963 Feb 14. The Delta B rocket successfully inserted the payload and Altair third stage in a 252 x 34498 km x 33.1 deg transfer orbit. At 1042 UT on Feb 14 the TE-375 motor was fired, and contact with the spacecraft was lost. The satellite was later tracked in a 34392 x 36739 km x 33.3 deg orbit, indicating that the motor did fire.
| Syncom 1 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 Feb 14 | 0535:08 | Launch by Delta B | CC LC17B |
| 0537:35 | T+2:27 MECO | ||
| Thor sep | |||
| 0537 | Delta S/N 20003 burn, 2:41 | ||
| 0540 | Delta SECO | ||
| 0550? | Altair SV-330 burn | ||
| 0551? | Altair sep | 252 x 34498x 33.1 | |
| 1963 Feb 14 | 1042 | AKM burn | |
| 1042 | LOS | ||
| 34392 x 36739 x 33.3 | |||
