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- ATS 3 was launched in November 1967 and was one of a series of spacecraft designed to demonstrate the utility and feasibility of a variety of technological and scientific activities that could be carried out by an earth-synchronous spacecraft. Of the 11 experiments on board, 8 were technological engineering experiments concerned with navigation, communications, and spacecraft operation equipment; 2 were photographic imaging experiments that produced near real-time daylight pictures of the earth-atmosphere system; and the remaining experiment was an ionospheric beacon. The spin-stabilized spacecraft was cylindrically shaped and measured 180 cm in length and 142 cm in diameter. The primary structural members were a honeycombed equipment shelf and thrust tube. Support rods extended radially outward from the thrust tube and were affixed to solar panels which formed the outer walls of the spacecraft. Equipment components and payload were mounted in the annular space between the thrust tube and solar panels. In addition to solar panels, the spacecraft was equipped with two rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries to provide electrical power. This satellite supported an image dissector camera, multicolor spin scan cloud cover camera, weather facsimile data relay system, omega position and location equipment designed to demonstrate the feasibility of using the NAVY's Omega Navigation System, and VHF, telemetry, and command antennas. Spacecraft guidance and orbital corrections were accomplished by 2.3 kg hydrogen peroxide and hydrazine thrusters, which were activated by ground command. Initially placed at 48 degrees West over the Atlantic Ocean in a geosynchronous orbit, the satellite position later varied between 45 and 95 degrees West in support of meteorological operations. In general, the various experiments were successful. Group: Platform_Details Entry_ID: ATS-3 Group: Platform_Identification Platform_Category: Earth Observation Satellites Platform_Series_or_Entity: ATS (Advanced Technology Satellite) Short_Name: ATS-3 Long_Name: Advanced Technology Satellite-3 End_Group Group: Synonymous_Platform_Names Short_Name: Advanced Tech. Sat. 3 Short_Name: 03029 End_Group Creation_Date: 2007-08-29 Online_Resource: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=1967-111A Group: Platform_Logistics Launch_Date: 1967-11-05 Primary_Sponsor: NASA End_Group End_Group
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