Failure
Ikonos 1
Earth Science
Lockheed Martin(LMT)Commercial
Athena II
POorbit
Earth observation satellite developed by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems. The launch failed when the payload shroud of the Athena-2 launch vehicle failed to separate.
Tuesday, April 27, 1999 at 6:22 PM
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#4,311
LMT Mission
#42
Pad Launch
#3
Location Launch
#591
Launch Window
NET
Apr 27, 1999, 6:22 PM
Schedule Changes
1 update
Space Launch Complex 6
Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California is a launch pad and support area. The site was originally developed starting in 1966, but no launches occurred until 1995, as it was repurposed sequentially for three programs that were subsequently cancelled. Initially to be used for Titan IIIM rockets and the Manned Orbiting Laboratory, these were cancelled before construction of SLC-6 was complete. The complex was later rebuilt to serve as the west coast launch site for the Space Shuttle, but went unused due to budget, safety and political considerations. The pad was subsequently used for four Athena rocket launches before being modified to support the Delta IV launch vehicle family, which used the pad for ten launches from 2006 until 2022. The last Delta IV launched in September 2022, and SpaceX leased SLC-6 in 2023 to convert it to launch Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy starting in 2025.
Total Launches
14
Orbital Attempts
14
Fastest Turnaround
4mo 9d
Athena II Specs
The Athena II is an American small expendable launch system which was used for three launches between 1998 and 1999.
Length
28.2 m
Diameter
2.36 m
Launch Mass
120 t
Thrust
1,900 kN
LEO Capacity
2,065 kg
GTO Capacity
593 kg
SSO Capacity
1,165 kg
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
1998
Fastest Turnaround
4mo 29d
Total Launches
3
Successful
2
Failed
1
Consecutive Success
1
Maiden flight: Jan 7, 1998
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin's Space Division started in the production of missiles and later ICBM's in the 1950s. Their TITAN missile system was used for 12 Gemini spacecraft and the Voyager probes. They have worked largely in collaboration with NASA on many of their probes, landers, and spacecraft, and hope to play a key role in NASA's return to the moon in 2024.
Founded
1953
Total Launches
80
Successful
77
Failed
3
Pending
0
Consecutive Success
38
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
Local Launch Time
Apr 27, 1999, 11:22 AM
Total Launches
885
Total Landings
34
Coordinates
34.7513, -120.5202