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United States Air ForceLaunch SuccessfulTest FlightAtlas SLV-3
Launched 1966-12-21 22:15:02 UTCSpace Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Success
Reached Suborbital
United States Air Force
72nd
launch this year
Space Launch Complex 3E
4th
launch from this pad this year
Pad turnaround
77 d
since the pad's previous launch
The Martin X-23 PRIME (Precision Recovery Including Maneuvering Entry) was a small uncrewed lifting body re-entry vehicle tested by the United States Air Force in the late 1960s. PRIME 1 was launched on 21 December 1966 on a mission to simulate a low-earth orbit reentry with a zero cross-range. The ballute deployed at 30.43 km, though the recovery parachute failed to completely deploy. The vehicle crashed into the Pacific Ocean and was not recovered.
Launch Provider
Government · United States of America · Founded 1947 · Commander-in-Chief President of the US
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal Corps, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the United States Armed Forces in 1947 with the enactment of the National Security Act of 1947.
Launches
1,078
Successful
972
90%
Upcoming
0
scheduled
Height
21m
Diameter
3m
To low Earth orbit
800kg
Liftoff thrust
3,824kN
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