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United States Air ForceLaunch SuccessfulGovernment/Top SecretTitan 401A Centaur
Launched 1996-04-24 23:37:02 UTCSpace Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Success
Reached Geostationary Orbit
Worldwide
27th
orbital launch attempt in 1996
United States Air Force
6th
launch this year
Space Launch Complex 41
1st
launch from this pad this year
Pad turnaround
289 d 10 h
since the pad's previous launch
The Mercury (MC) series, although known to the public as 'Advanced Vortex', are the latest generation of USAF ELINT/SIGINT satellites. They were focussed on communications intelligence (COMINT), focused at strategic level communications, but had the capability added to intercept also missile telemetry. These satellites were launched under the designation Program 7500 and were part of NRO's Program A.
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
63.1m
Diameter
3m
To low Earth orbit
21,680kg
Liftoff thrust
14,200kN
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