AS-103

AS-103
Pegasus micrometeoroid detection satellite as flown aboard AS-103
Mission typeSpacecraft aerodynamics;
Micrometeoroid investigation
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID1965-009B
SATCAT no.1088
Mission duration3 years, 6 months, 13 days
Distance travelled3,114,579,139 kilometers (1.935309753×109 mi)
Orbits completed~75,918
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftApollo BP-16
Pegasus 1
Launch mass15,375 kilograms (33,896 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateFebruary 16, 1965, 14:37:03 (1965-02-16UTC14:37:03Z) UTC
RocketSaturn I SA-9
Launch siteCape Kennedy LC-37B
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
DeactivatedAugust 29, 1968 (1968-08-30)
Decay dateJuly 10, 1985
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude500 kilometers (310 mi)
Apogee altitude736 kilometers (457 mi)
Inclination31.7 degrees
Period97.06 minutes
Epoch22 March 1965[1]
← AS-102
AS-104 →

AS-103 was the third orbital flight test of a boilerplate Apollo spacecraft, and the first flight of a Pegasus micrometeoroid detection satellite. Also known as SA-9, it was the third operational launch of a two-stage Saturn I launch vehicle.

  1. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved October 31, 2013.