Echo 1
Thor Delta
United States Air Force
Submit Launch Photo
Thank you for submitting your launch photo for display on this launch page. By submitting a photo you are giving permission to display the photo on this launch page including a photo credit and an optional link. Files will be reviewed and only high quality photos will be approved.
Mission
Echo 1
Type: Communications
The Echo 1A spacecraft was a 30.48 m diameter balloon of mylar polyester film 0.0127 mm thick. The spacecraft was designed as a passive communications reflector for transcontinental and intercontinental telephone (voice), radio, and television signals. It had 107.9 MHz beacon transmitters for telemetry purposes. These transmitters were powered by five nickel-cadmium batteries that were charged by 70 solar cells mounted on the balloon. Because of the large area-to-mass ratio of the spacecraft, data for the calculation of atmospheric density and solar pressure could be acquired. The spacecraft was also used to evaluate the technical feasibility of satellite triangulation during the latter portion of its life. Echo 1 failed during the coast period after launch, as the attitude control jets on the second stage failed and the spacecraft did not achieve orbit. Echo 1A was a successful relaunch.
Location
Space Launch Complex 17A
Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
842 rockets have launched from Cape Canaveral, FL, USA.

Agency
United States Air Force
Type: Government
Abbreviation: USAF
Country: USA