ESSA-3

ESSA-3

Mission type	Weather satellite
Operator	ESSA/NASA
COSPAR ID	1966-087A
SATCAT no.	2435
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	RCA Astro
Launch mass	145 kilograms (320 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	October 2, 1966, 10:34 (1966-10-02UTC10:34Z) UTC[2]
Rocket	Delta C
Launch site	Vandenberg LC-2E
End of mission
Disposal	Decommissioned
Deactivated	December 2, 1968 (1968-12-03)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Eccentricity	0.00703
Perigee altitude	1,383 kilometers (859 mi)
Apogee altitude	1,493 kilometers (928 mi)
Inclination	100.9°
Period	114.6 minutes
Epoch	October 2, 1966
TOS ← ESSA-2 ESSA-4 →

ESSA-3 (or TOS-A) was a spin-stabilized operational meteorological satellite. Its name was derived from that of its oversight agency, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA).

ESSA-3 was launched on October 2, 1966, at 10:34 UTC. It was launched atop a Delta rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The spacecraft had a mass of 132 kilograms (291 lb) at the time of launch. ESSA-3 had an inclination of 100.9°, and an orbited the Earth once every 114 minutes. Its perigee was 1,383 kilometers (859 mi) and its apogee was 1,493 kilometers (928 mi).

 This article incorporates public domain material from ESSA 3. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved June 4, 2018.