ATS (Applications Technology Satellites)

The Applications Technology Satellite series was a set of 6 NASA spacecraft created to explore & flight test new technologies and techniques for communications, meteorological and navigation satellites. Some of the areas investigated during the program included spin stabilization, gravity gradient stabilization, complex synchronous orbit maneuvers, and a number of communications experiments. The ATS flights also investigated the geostationary orbit environment. And, although the ATS satellites were mainly intended as testbeds, they also collected and transmitted meteorological data and functioned at times as communications satellites. Design studies for the advanced SYNCOM satellites provided much of the basis for the ATS program. The first 5 satellites in the series shared many common design features, and were built by Hughes. The 6th satellite was a new design, and was built by Fairchild. A 7th ATS satellite was cancelled due to budgetary reasons.

Related QuickLook Pages:

• ATS-1
• ATS-2
• ATS-3
• ATS-4
• ATS-5
• ATS-6

Launch Facts

Name	Int'l Desig.	Date	Site	Vehicle	Orbit	Mass(kg)
Notes
ATS 1	1966-110A	12/7/66	ESMC	Atlas Agena D	GEO	352
Applications Technology Satellite; communications and meteorological experiments
ATS 2	1967-031A	4/6/67	ESMC	Atlas Agena D	MEO	370
Launch vehicle failure left in useless orbit; communications tests
ATS 3	1967-111A	11/5/67	ESMC	Atlas Agena D	GEO	365
Communications tests
ATS 4	1968-068A	8/10/68	ESMC	Atlas Centaur	LEO	391
Applications Technology Satellite; 2nd stage failure left in useless LEO orbit
ATS 5	1969-069A	8/12/69	ESMC	Atlas Centaur	GEO	821
Applications Technology Satellite; communications tests; 108 deg W
ATS 6	1974-039A	5/30/74	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	930
Application Technology Satellite; experimental commsat