USAF Titan 401A Centaur Mercury 16

Name: USAF Titan 401A Centaur Mercury 16
Start: 1998-08-12T11:30:01.000Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 41

Titan 401A Centaur

Status

Failure

Date

12 AUG 1998

11:30

Launch Provider

United States Air Force

Launch Pad

Space Launch Complex 41

Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Mission Overview

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.

Rocket

Titan 401A Centaur

Mission Type

Government/Top Secret

Orbit

Geostationary Orbit

Stages

Livestream

Not available

Rocket Details

Titan IV was a family of heavy-lift space launch vehicles developed by Martin Marietta and operated by the United States Air Force from 1989 to 2005.

Height

63.1 m

Diameter

3.05 m

Launch Mass

868 T

Thrust

14,200 kN