List_of_Thor_and_Delta_launches_(1970–1979)

List of Thor and Delta launches (1970–1979)

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Between 1970 and 1979, there were 117 Thor missiles launched, of which 108 were successful, giving a 92.3% success rate.

NASA used it to launch its own satellites, as well as to launch satellites for foreign governments and companies.

List of Thor and Delta launches
1957–1959 · 1960–1969 · 1970–1979 · 1980–1989 · 1990–1999 · 2000–2009 · 2010–2019 · 2020–2024

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This article uses material from the Wikipedia article List_of_Thor_and_Delta_launches_(1970–1979), and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] [1]
"Table1.32". NASA. Archived from the original on 18 November 2004. Retrieved 12 March 2007. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[2] [2]
Chronology of Thor-Delta Development and Operations Archived 2004-11-18 at the Wayback Machine] This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[Display-3] [3]
"Display: Yuri 1 1978-039A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[4] [4]
Morin, Monte (9 August 2014). "Vintage ISEE-3 satellite makes long-awaited flyby on Sunday". The Los Angeles Times.

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Date/Time (UTC)	Rocket	S/N	Launch Site	Payload	Function	Orbit	Outcome	Remarks
1970-01-15 00:16	Delta M	Delta 75 Thor 557	CCAFS SLC-17A	Intelsat 3-6	Communication satellite	GTO	Success
1970-01-23 11:52	Delta N6	Delta 76 Thor 542	VAFB SLC-2W	ITOS 1 / Oscar 5	Weather Satellite / Amateur radio satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1970-02-04 02:59	Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D	Thor 534 Agena Unknown	VAFB SLC-2E	SERT 2	Technological demonstration satellite	MEO	Success
1970-02-11 08:40	Thor Burner 2	Thor 287	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5A-F1	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1970-03-04 22:15	Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D	Thor 551 Agena 1657	VAFB SLC-3W	KH-4B (S/N 1109)	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1970-03-20 23:46	Delta M	Delta 77 Thor 558	CCAFS SLC-17A	NATO 1	Military communication satellite	GTO	Success
1970-03-27 07:37	Thor DSV-2J	Thor 152	Johnston LE-1		ASAT test	Suborbital	Success
1970-04-08 08:17	Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D	Thor 553 Agena 6223	VAFB SLC-2E	Nimbus 4 / TOPO-1	Weather satellite / Geodesic research satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1970-04-23 00:46	Delta M	Delta 78 Thor 559	CCAFS SLC-17A	Intelsat 3-7	Communication satellite	GTO	Success
1970-04-24	Thor DSV-2J	Thor 225	Johnston LE-1		Satellite Inspection test	Suborbital	Failure	Thor rocket collided with the satellite.
1970-05-20 21:35	Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D	Thor 555 Agena 1657	VAFB SLC-3W	KH-4B (S/N 1110)	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1970-07-23 01:25	Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D	Thor 556 Agena 1654	VAFB SLC-3W	KH-4B (S/N 1111)	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1970-07-23 23:23	Delta M	Delta 79 Thor 563	CCAFS SLC-17A	Intelsat 3-8	Communication satellite	GTO	Success
1970-08-19 12:11	Delta M	Delta 80 Thor 561	CCAFS SLC-17A	Skynet-1B	Military communication satellite	GTO	Success
1970-08-26 10:01	Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D	Thor 535 Agena 2736	VAFB SLC-1W	Ferret 15 (OPS 8329)	ELINT	LEO	Success
1970-09-03 08:39	Thor Burner 2	Thor 288	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5A-F2	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1970-09-24 12:54	Thor DSV-2J	Thor 271	Johnston LE-2		Astronomy research flight	Suborbital	Success
1970-11-18 21:29	Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D	Thor 552 Agena 1658	VAFB SLC-3W	KH-4B (S/N 1112)	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1970-12-11 11:35	Delta N6	Delta 81 Thor 546	VAFB SLC-2W	NOAA-1	Weather Satellite	LEO / SSO	Success

Date/Time (UTC)	Rocket	S/N	Launch Site	Payload	Function	Orbit	Outcome	Remarks
1971-02-03 01:41	Delta M	Delta 82 Thor 560	CCAFS SLC-17A	NATO 2	Military communication satellite	GTO	Success
1971-02-17 03:52	Thor Burner 2	Thor 249	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5A-F3 / Calsphere 3A / Calsphere 4 / Calsphere 5	Military weather satellite / Technology demonstration (x3)	LEO / SSO	Success
1971-02-17 20:04	Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D	Thor 537 Agena 1659	VAFB SLC-3W	KH-4B (S/N 1113)	Reconnaissance	LEO	Failure	Improper pre-flight procedure caused frozen lubricant to form a plug that resulted in complete turbopump failure 18 seconds after liftoff. The booster lost thrust and impacted the ground not far from the launch complex.
1971-03-13 16:15	Delta M6	Delta 83 Thor 562	CCAFS SLC-17A	Explorer 43 (IMP-H)	Magnetosphere research satellite	HEO	Success
1971-03-24 21:05	Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D	Thor 538 Agena 1660	VAFB SLC-3W	KH-4B (S/N 1114)	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1971-04-01 02:53	Delta E1	Delta 84 Thor 491	VAFB SLC-2E	ISIS-II	Ionosphere research satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1971-06-08 14:00	Thor Burner 2	Thor 210	VAFB SLC-10W	SESP-1 (P70-1)	Technological demonstration satellite	LEO	Success
1971-07-16 21:29	Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D	Thor 552 Agena 1658	VAFB SLC-1W	Ferret 16 (OPS 8373)	ELINT	LEO	Success
1971-09-10 21:33	Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D	Thor 567 Agena 1662	VAFB SLC-3W	KH-4B (S/N 1115)	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1971-09-29 09:50	Delta N	Delta 85 Thor 565	CCAFS SLC-17A	OSO 7 / TTS-4	Solar observation satellite / Technology demonstration	LEO, 321×572 km, 93.2 min, i=33.1°, e=0.0184	Success	2nd stage suffered a failure of the attitude control system, however the satellite reached orbit and ground controllers were able to correct its flight path.^[1]
1971-10-14 07:51	Thor Burner 2A	Thor 159	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5B-F1	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1971-10-17 13:36	Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D	Thor 570 Agena Unknown	VAFB SLC-1W	ASTEX (P71-2)	Technological demonstration satellite	LEO	Success
1971-10-21 11:32	Delta N6	Delta 86 Thor 572	VAFB SLC-2E	ITOS-B	Weather Satellite	planned: LEO / SSO	Failure	2nd stage oxidizer leak starting at T+20 seconds. The attitude control system ran out of propellant trying to correct the stage's flight path and the launch vehicle reentered the atmosphere and broke up above the Arctic Circle.
1971-12-14 21:13	Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D	Thor 568 Agena Unknown	VAFB SLC-1W	Poppy (OPS 7898) (x4)	ELINT	LEO	Success	Final flight of SLV-2G

Date/Time (UTC)	Rocket	S/N	Launch Site	Payload	Function	Orbit	Outcome	Remarks
1972-01-31 17:20	Delta L	Delta 87 Thor 564	VAFB SLC-2E	HEOS-2	Magnetosphere research satellite	HEO	Success
1972-03-12 00:00	Delta N	Delta 88 Thor 573	VAFB SLC-2E	TD-1A	Astronomical research satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1972-03-24 08:46	Thor Burner 2A	Thor 153	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5B-F2	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1972-04-19 21:43	Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D	Thor 569 Agena 1661	VAFB SLC-3W	KH-4B (S/N 1116)	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success
1972-05-25 18:41	Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D	Thor 571 Agena 1663	VAFB SLC-3W	KH-4B (S/N 1117)	Reconnaissance	LEO	Success	Final flight of Thorad-Agena Last Corona spacecraft
1972-07-23 18:06	Delta 904^[2]	Delta 89 Thor 574	VAFB SLC-2W	Landsat 1	Earth Resource Technology Satellite	917 km LEO, near polar, Sun synchronous.	Success	First use of 9 strap-on SRBs. Discovered Landsat Island.
1972-09-23 13:20	Delta 1604	Delta 90 Thor 579	CCAFS SLC-17B	Explorer 47 (IMP-I)	Magnetospheric research satellite	HEO	Success	First successful flight of Delta-1000 series.
15 October 1972 17:17	Delta 300	Delta 91 Thor 575	VAFB, SLC-2W	NOAA-2 / AMSAT-OSCAR 6	Weather satellite / Amateur radio satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1972-11-09 03:43	Thor Burner 2A	Thor 294	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5B-F3	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1972-11-10 01:14	Delta 1914	Delta 92 Thor 580	CCAFS SLC-17B	Anik-A1	Communication Satellite	GTO	Success
1972-12-11 07:56	Delta 900	Delta 93 Thor 577	VAFB SLC-2W	Nimbus-5	Weather Satellite	LEO / SSO	Success

Date/Time (UTC)	Rocket	S/N	Launch Site	Payload	Function	Orbit	Outcome	Remarks
1973-04-20 23:47	Delta 1914	Delta 94 Thor 583	CCAFS SLC-17B	Anik-A2	Communication Satellite	GTO	Success
1973-06-10 14:13	Delta 1913	Delta 95 Thor 581	CCAFS SLC-17B	Explorer 49 (RAE-B)	Radio astronomy satellite	Lunar Orbit	Success
1973-07-16 17:10	Delta 300	Delta 96 Thor 578	VAFB SLC-2W	ITOS-E	Weather Satellite	planned: LEO / SSO	Failure	Hydraulic pump malfunction led to failure of the 2nd stage attitude control system. The booster and payload reentered the atmosphere and broke up.
1973-08-17 04:49	Thor Burner 2A	Thor 291	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5B-F4	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1973-10-26 02:26	Delta 1604	Delta 97 Thor 582	CCAFS SLC-17B	Explorer 50 (IMP-J)	Magnetospheric research satellite	HEO	Success
1973-11-06 14:02	Delta 300	Delta 98 Thor 576	VAFB SLC-2W	NOAA-3	Weather Satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1973-12-16 06:18	Delta 1900	Delta 99 Thor 585	VAFB SLC-2W	Explorer 51 (AE-C)	Atmospheric research satellite	MEO	Success

Date/Time (UTC)	Rocket	S/N	Launch Site	Payload	Function	Orbit	Outcome	Remarks
1974-01-19 01:38	Delta 2313	Delta 100 Thor 587	CCAFS SLC-17B	Skynet-2A	Military communication satellite	planned: GTO	Failure	First flight of the Delta 2000 series. Stage 2 electronics package short circuited (induced by a piece of conductive contaminant shaken loose during launch), leading to loss of control.
1974-03-16 08:00	Thor Burner 2A	Thor 207	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5B-F5	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1974-04-13 21:33	Delta 2914	Delta 101 Thor 588	CCAFS SLC-17B	Westar-1	Communication satellite	GTO	Success
1974-05-17 10:31	Delta 2914	Delta 102 Thor 590	CCAFS SLC-17B	SMS-1	Weather satellite	GTO	Success
1974-08-09 03:22	Thor Burner 2A	Thor 275	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5C-F1	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1974-10-10 22:53	Delta 2914	Delta 103 Thor 589	CCAFS SLC-17B	Westar-2	Communication satellite	GTO	Success
1974-11-15 17:11	Delta 2310	Delta 104 Thor 592	VAFB SLC-2W	NOAA-4 / Oscar 7 / Intasat	Weather Satellite / Amateur radio satellite / Ionosphere research	LEO / SSO	Success
1974-11-23 00:28	Delta 2313	Delta 105 Thor 591	CCAFS SLC-17B	Skynet-2B	Military communication satellite	GTO	Success
1974-12-19 02:39	Delta 2914	Delta 106 Thor 599	CCAFS SLC-17B	Symphonie-1	Communication satellite	GTO	Success

List_of_Thor_and_Delta_launches_(1970–1979)

List of Thor and Delta launches (1970–1979)

Launch statistics

Rocket configurations

Launch sites

Launch outcomes

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

References

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Date/Time (UTC)	Rocket	S/N	Launch Site	Payload	Function	Orbit	Outcome	Remarks
1975-01-22 17:56	Delta 2910	Delta 107 Thor 598	VAFB SLC-2W	Landsat 2	Earth Resource Technology Satellite	917 km LEO, near polar, Sun synchronous.	Success	Satellite operated until Feb 25, 1982.
1975-02-06 22:04	Delta 2914	Delta 108 Thor 593	CCAFS SLC-17B	SMS-2	Weather satellite	GTO	Success
1975-04-10 23:50	Delta 1410	Delta 109 Thor 584	VAFB SLC-2W	GEOS-C	Geodetic research satellite	LEO	Success
1975-05-07 23:35	Delta 2914	Delta 110 Thor 596	CCAFS SLC-17B	Anik-A3	Communication Satellite	GTO	Success
1975-05-24 03:22	Thor Burner 2A	Thor 197	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5C-F2	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1975-06-12 08:12	Delta 2910	Delta 111 Thor 595	VAFB SLC-2W	Nimbus-6	Weather Satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1975-06-21 11:43	Delta 1910	Delta 112 Thor 586	CCAFS SLC-17B	OSO-8	Solar observation satellite	LEO	Success
1975-08-09 01:47	Delta 2913	Delta 113 Thor 602	VAFB SLC-2W	COS-B	High-energy astronomy research satellite	HEO	Success
1975-09-09 05:30	N-I	N-1 (F)	Tanegashima SLC-N	ETS-1 (Kiku-1)	Technological demonstration satellite	MEO	Success	First Japanese licensed built Delta flight.
1975-08-27 01:42	Delta 2914	Delta 114 Thor 594	CCAFS SLC-17A	Symphonie-2	Communication satellite	GTO	Success
1975-09-19	Thor DSV-2J	Thor 201	Johnston LE-2		Missile defense test tracking target	Suborbital	Success
1975-10-06 09:01	Delta 2910	Delta 115 Thor 600	VAFB SLC-2W	Explorer 54 (AE-D)	Atmospheric research satellite	MEO	Success
1975-10-16 22:40	Delta 2914	Delta 116 Thor 597	CCAFS SLC-17B	GOES-A (GOES-1)	Weather satellite	GTO	Success
1975-11-06	Thor DSV-2J	Thor 274	Johnston LE-2		Missile defense test tracking target	Suborbital	Success	Last sub-orbital Thor series flight
1975-11-20 02:06	Delta 2910	Delta 117 Thor 604	CCAFS SLC-17B	Explorer 55 (AE-E)	Atmospheric research satellite	MEO	Success
1975-12-13 01:56	Delta 3914	Delta 118 Thor 607	CCAFS SLC-17A	Satcom-1	Communication satellite	GTO	Success	First flight of the Delta 3000 series.

Date/Time (UTC)	Rocket	S/N	Launch Site	Payload	Function	Orbit	Outcome	Remarks
1976-01-17 23:28	Delta 2914	Delta 119 Thor 606	CCAFS SLC-17B	CTS 1 Hermes	Experimental communication satellite	GTO	Success
1976-02-19 07:52	Thor Burner 2A	Thor 182	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5C-F3	Military weather satellite	planned: LEO / SSO	Failure	Thor stage not loaded with enough kerosene fuel due to incorrect LR79 main engine data sheet entry. Satellite re-entered after one orbit.
1976-02-19 22:32	Delta 2914	Delta 120 Thor 603	CCAFS SLC-17B	Marisat-1	Communication satellite	GTO	Success
1976-02-29 03:30	N-I	N-2 (F)	Tanegashima SLC-N	ISS-1 (Ume-1)	Ionospheric research satellite	MEO	Success
1976-03-26 22:42	Delta 3914	Delta 121 Thor 610	CCAFS SLC-17A	Satcom-2	Communication satellite	GTO	Success
1976-04-22 20:46	Delta 2914	Delta 122 Thor 608	CCAFS SLC-17B	NATO 3A	Military communication satellite	GTO	Success
1976-05-04 08:00	Delta 2913	Delta 123 Thor 609	VAFB SLC-2W	LAGEOS-1	Geodesic research satellite	MEO	Success
1976-06-10 00:09	Delta 2914	Delta 124 Thor 601	CCAFS SLC-17A	Marisat-2	Communication satellite	GTO	Success
1976-07-08 23:31	Delta 2914	Delta 125 Thor 611	CCAFS SLC-17A	Palapa-A1	Communication satellite	GTO	Success
1976-07-29 17:07	Delta 2310	Delta 126 Thor 605	VAFB SLC-2W	NOAA-5	Weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1976-09-11 08:00	Thor DSV-2U	Thor 172	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5D-F1	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1976-10-14 22:44	Delta 2914	Delta 127 Thor 614	CCAFS SLC-17A	Marisat-3	Communication satellite	GTO	Success

Date/Time (UTC)	Rocket	S/N	Launch Site	Payload	Function	Orbit	Outcome	Remarks
1977-01-28 00:49	Delta 2914	Delta 128 Thor 613	CCAFS SLC-17A	NATO 3B	Military communication satellite	GTO	Success
1977-02-23 08:50	N-I	N-3 (F)	Tanegashima SLC-N	ETS-2 (Kiku-2)	Experimental communication satellite	GTO	Success
1977-03-10 23:16	Delta 2914	Delta 129 Thor 612	CCAFS SLC-17A	Palapa-A2	Communication satellite	GTO	Success
1977-04-20 10:15	Delta 2914	Delta 130 Thor 617	CCAFS SLC-17B	ESA-GEOS-1	Magnetosphere research satellite	planned: GTO	Partial failure	Premature separation of second and third stages led to failure of Stage 3 spin up.
1977-06-05 02:59	Thor DSV-2U	Thor 183	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5D-F2	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1977-06-16 10:51	Delta 2914	Delta 131 Thor 616	CCAFS SLC-17B	GOES-B (GOES-2)	Weather satellite	GTO	Success
1977-07-14 14:56	Delta 2914	Delta 132 Thor 618	CCAFS SLC-17B	GMS-1	Weather satellite	GTO	Success
1977-08-25 23:50	Delta 2313	Delta 133 Thor 615	CCAFS SLC-17B	Sirio-1	Experimental communication satellite	GTO	Success
1977-09-13 23:21	Delta 3914	Delta 134 Thor 619	CCAFS SLC-17A	OTS-1	Experimental communication satellite	planned: GTO	Failure	Launch vehicle exploded at T+52 seconds due to a rupture of the SRM #1 casing.
1977-10-22 13:53	Delta 2914	Delta 135 Thor 623	CCAFS SLC-17B	Explorer 56 (ISEE-A / B)	Magnetospheric research satellites	HEO	Success
1977-11-23 01:35	Delta 2914	Delta 136 Thor 620	CCAFS SLC-17A	Meteosat-1	Weather satellite	GTO	Success
1977-12-15 00:47	Delta 2914	Delta 137 Thor 624	CCAFS SLC-17B	CS-1	Experimental communication satellite	GTO	Success

Date/Time (UTC)	Rocket	S/N	Launch Site	Payload	Function	Orbit	Outcome	Remarks
1978-01-26 17:36	Delta 2914	Delta 138 Thor 613	CCAFS SLC-17A	Explorer 57 (International Ultraviolet Explorer)	Astronomical observatory satellite	HEO	Success	Satellite operational until 1996.
1978-02-15 04:00	N-I	N-4 (F)	Tanegashima SLC-N	ISS-2 (Ume-2)	Ionospheric research satellite	MEO	Success
1978-03-05 17:54	Delta 2910	Delta 139 Thor 621	VAFB SLC-2W	Landsat 3	Earth Resource Technology Satellite	917 km LEO, near polar, Sun synchronous.	Success	Satellite decommissioned on March 21, 1983.
7 April 1978 22:01	Delta 2914	Delta 140 Thor 626	CCAFS, SLC-17B	BSE-1^[3]	Direct-broadcast satellite	GTO	Success	First of Japanese BSE series, also known as "Yuri 1".
1978-05-01 03:05	Thor DSV-2U	Thor 143	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5D-F3	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1978-05-11 22:59	Delta 3914	Delta 141 Thor 627	CCAFS SLC-17A	OTS-2	Experimental communication satellite	GTO	Success
1978-06-16 10:49	Delta 2914	Delta 142 Thor 625	CCAFS SLC-17B	GOES-C (GOES-3)	Weather satellite	GTO	Success
1978-07-14 10:43	Delta 2914	Delta 143 Thor 631	CCAFS SLC-17A	ESA-GEOS-2	Magnetosphere research satellite	GTO	Success
1978-08-12 15:12	Delta 2914	Delta 144 Thor 633	CCAFS SLC-17B	Explorer 59 (ISEE-3)	Magnetospheric research satellite	HEO to Sun-Earth L1 halo orbit Eventually shifted to heliocentric	Success	First satellite to use Lagrangian point and halo orbit Later re-classified as the International Cometary Explorer. Satellite still operational as of 2014.^[4]
1978-10-24 08:14	Delta 2910	Delta 145 Thor 630	VAFB SLC-2W	Nimbus-7 / CAMEO	Weather Satellite / Ionosphere research	LEO / SSO	Success
1978-11-19 00:46	Delta 2914	Delta 146 Thor 634	CCAFS SLC-17B	NATO 3C	Military communication satellite	GTO	Success
1978-12-16 00:21	Delta 3914	Delta 147 Thor 632	CCAFS SLC-17A	Anik-B1	Communication Satellite	GTO	Success

Date/Time (UTC)	Rocket	S/N	Launch Site	Payload	Function	Orbit	Outcome	Remarks
1979-01-30 21:42	Delta 2914	Delta 148 Thor 629	CCAFS SLC-17B	SCATHA (P78-2)	Military technological research satellite	HEO	Success
1979-02-06 08:46	N-I	N-5 (F)	Tanegashima SLC-N	ECS-A (Ayame 1)	Experimental communication satellite	planned: GTO	Failure	Recontact between satellite and upper stage.
1979-06-06 18:22	Thor DSV-2U	Thor 264	VAFB SLC-10W	DMSP-5D-F4	Military weather satellite	LEO / SSO	Success
1979-08-10 00:20	Delta 2914	Delta 149 Thor 638	CCAFS SLC-17A	Westar-3	Communication Satellite	GTO	Success
1979-12-07 01:35	Delta 3914	Delta 150 Thor 622	CCAFS SLC-17A	Satcom-3	Communication satellite	GTO	Success