Mercury (satellite)

Mercury, also known as Advanced Vortex, was a series of three United States

Vortex/Chalet

satellites.

The last launch attempt, on 12 August 1998 failed, with the US$700–800 million satellite and the $344 million

Range Safety Officer also issued a self-destruct signal to the rocket.^[2] Observers estimate each spacecraft has a mass of 4,000–5,000 kg.^[3]

Launches

Name	COSPAR ID SATCAT No.	Launch date (UTC)	Launch vehicle	Launch site	Launch designation	Longitude	Remarks
USA-105	1994-054A 23223	27 August 1994 08:56:58	Titan IV(401)A	LC-41	N/A
USA-118	1996-026A 23855	24 April 1996 23:37:01	Titan IV(401)A	LC-41	N/A
Unnamed	N/A	12 August 1998 11:30:01	Titan IV(401)A	LC-41	NROL-7	N/A	Failed to orbit

^ "Titan IVA-20 Accident Investigation Board Summary".
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-05-04. Retrieved 2009-05-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Craig Covault and Joseph C. Anselmo (1998-08-17). "Titan explosion destroys secret 'Mercury' sigint". Aviation Week and Space Technology. 149.