Vela 5A

Vela 5A
Post-launch separation of Vela 5A and 5B
OperatorUSAF
COSPAR ID1969-046D[1]
SATCAT no.3954
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerTRW
Launch mass259 kilograms (571 lb)
Power120 W
Start of mission
Launch dateMay 23, 1969, 07:57:01 (1969-05-23UTC07:57:01Z) UTC
RocketTitan III-C 15
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-41
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeHighly Elliptical
Semi-major axis117,689 kilometres (73,129 mi)
Perigee altitude29,122.4 kilometres (18,095.8 mi)
Apogee altitude193,514.6 kilometres (120,244.4 mi)
Inclination42°
Period6,696.8 minutes (111.613 h)
← Vela 4B
Vela 5B →

Vela 5A (also known Vela 9 and OPS 6909[2]) was an American reconnaissance satellite to detect explosions and nuclear tests on land and in space. It was released together with Vela 5B, OV5 5, OV5 6 and OV5 9.[3]

Instruments

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. "Vela 5A". Retrieved 29 September 2019. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Antonín Vítek. "1969-046D - Vela 9". Space 40 (in Czech). Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  3. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Vela 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 (advanced Vela)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 29 September 2019.