Marisat 3 was launched on April 14, 1976. It was the third satellite in the Marisat series, designed to provide mobile satellite communications.
Marisat 3 was built by Western Electric and was launched on a Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral. The satellite weighed about 1,100 pounds at launch.
The Marisat system was developed to provide communications services for the US Navy and other government agencies. It was also designed to support the development of commercial mobile satellite communications.
Marisat 3 was placed in geosynchronous orbit at 68.5° West longitude.
Discover more: List of Communications Satellite Firsts
Launch
Marisat 3 was launched by a Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, at 22:44 UTC on October 14, 1976.
The launch took place on a Tuesday evening, and it's interesting to note that the exact time of the launch is recorded in UTC, which is a standard time zone used for international coordination.
Marisat 3 was one of many satellites launched in 1976, a year that saw a total of 121 orbital launches.
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