Trailblazer (satellite)
Trailblazer |
Mission type |
Technology |
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Operator |
US Air Force MDA |
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Mission duration |
Failed to orbit |
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Spacecraft properties |
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Bus |
MMB-100 |
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Manufacturer |
SpaceDev |
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Start of mission |
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Launch date |
3 August 2008, 03:34 (2008-08-03UTC03:34) UTC |
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Rocket |
Falcon 1 |
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Launch site |
Omelek |
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Contractor |
SpaceX |
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Orbital parameters |
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Reference system |
Geocentric |
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Regime |
Low Earth |
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Epoch |
Planned |
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Trailblazer was a technology demonstration satellite, which was to have been operated by the United States Air Force and the Missile Defense Agency. It was selected for launch under a "Jumpstart" contract, to demonstrate responsiveness, with the final payload being chosen less than a month ahead of the scheduled launch date, and was launched as the primary payload of the third Falcon 1, which failed just over two minutes after launch on 3 August 2008. Two previous Falcon 1 launches also failed to reach orbit, but the fourth succeeded although it only carried a dummy payload.
It was originally built for a cancelled MDA project, and was based on a SpaceDev MMB-100 satellite bus. It was launched from Omelek Island, at 03:34 GMT. Several other payloads were to be launched aboard the same rocket, including two CubeSats for NASA, and a space burial payload for Celestis, which would have remained attached to the rocket in low Earth orbit.
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| | | Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Manned flights are indicated in bold text. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in brackets. |
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