Launched in 1996-8, the Inmarsat-3s were built by Lockheed Martin Astro Space (now Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space) of the USA, responsible for the basic spacecraft, and the European Matra Marconi Space (now Astrium), which developed the communications payload.
Atlas II was a member of the Atlas family of launch vehicles, which evolved from the successful Atlas missile program of the 1950s. It was designed to launch payloads into low earth orbit, geosynchronous transfer orbit or geosynchronous orbit. Sixty-three launches of the Atlas II, IIA and IIAS models were carried out between 1991 and 2004; all sixty-three launches were successes, making the Atlas II the most reliable launch system in history.
When is the Atlas IIA | INMARSAT III F-3 launch?
What rocket is being used for INMARSAT III F-3?
Where is the Atlas IIA | INMARSAT III F-3 launching from?
What orbit is INMARSAT III F-3 going to?
Who is launching INMARSAT III F-3?
Can I watch the Atlas IIA | INMARSAT III F-3 launch live?
Mission Profile
INMARSAT III F-3 was a Atlas IIA mission operated by Lockheed Martin that lifted off from Launch Complex 36A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on December 18, 1996. The flight carried its payload on a communications mission to Geostationary Orbit. The launch was a success.