MIDAS 6 (FTV 1169)
- MIDAS 6 (FTV 1169) MIDAS 6 (FTV 1169)
Object Name MIDAS 6 (FTV 1169)
Object Full Name -
Norad ID 574
Cospar ID 1963-014A
Object Type Satellite
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The MIDAS 6 (MIssile Defense Alarm System) satellite was designed primarily to detect the exhaust heat from a recently launched ICBM by use of infrared sensors. A secondary objective was to eject 350 million copper needles into earth orbit (Project West Ford). The needles were to serve as an artificial scattering medium for radio signals in the centimeter band. The spacecraft was cylindrically shaped measuring approximately 6 m in length and 1.5 m in diameter. Once in orbit, the spacecraft was stabilized in a nose-down attitude so that the IR sensors and telemetry antenna were always facing earthward. The satellite continued in orbit until April 1977.

Launch Date 1963-05-09
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Launch Site Air Force Western Test Range, California, USA
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Country of Operator United States
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Orbit Status Earth Orbit
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Period: 166.4 min
Inclination: 87.3°
Apogee: 3677.0 km
Perigee: 3611.0 km
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RCS 10.0295 m²
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