MIDAS 12 (RTS-1 3 / AFP-461 F-3), the final U.S. Air Force Missile Defense Alarm System infrared early-warning satellite, launched on an Atlas-Agena D from Vandenberg into polar orbit with SECOR 8 (EGRS VIII) for geodesy; it demonstrated space-based detection of ballistic-missile launches.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- PO
- Polar orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 2 T (est.)
- Flight
- 33rd
- of 48 Atlas SLV-3 Agena D flights
- Date and time
- 5 October 1966, 22:00 UTC
- Rocket
- Atlas SLV-3 Agena D
- Builder
- Convair
- Launch site
- Space Launch Complex 3E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Payload
- Government/Top Secret
- International designator
- 1966-089
- Launches in 1966
- 99th of 131
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
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