Vela 5A

Vela 5A (also known Vela 9 and OPS 6909^[2]) was an American reconnaissance satellite to detect explosions and nuclear tests on land and in space. It was released together with Vela 5B, OV5 5, OV5 6 and OV5 9.^[3]

Vela 5A

Post-launch separation of Vela 5A and 5B
Operator	USAF
COSPAR ID	1969-046D[1]
SATCAT no.	3954
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	TRW
Launch mass	259 kilograms (571 lb)
Power	120 W
Start of mission
Launch date	May 23, 1969, 07:57:01 (1969-05-23UTC07:57:01Z) UTC
Rocket	Titan III-C 15
Launch site	Cape Canaveral LC-41
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Highly Elliptical
Semi-major axis	117,689 kilometres (73,129 mi)
Perigee altitude	29,122.4 kilometres (18,095.8 mi)
Apogee altitude	193,514.6 kilometres (120,244.4 mi)
Inclination	42°
Period	6,696.8 minutes (111.613 h)
Vela ← Vela 4B Vela 5B →

Instruments

• 2 optical bhangmeters observing the planet
• 12 external X-ray detectors
• 18 internal neutron and gamma-ray detectors

See also

• Vela (satellite)