ATS-6 propulsion performance - Four years in orbit

The Applications Technology Satellite-6 (ATS-6) is NASA's largest experimental communications satellite. The spacecraft has a weight of 3000 lb. It is 52 ft from tip to tip of the solar arrays and 27 ft from the bottom of the earth viewing module to the top of the magnetometer boom. The satellite was launched on May 30, 1974, by a Titan IIIC and has been operating in synchronous orbit at full capability for over four years. The ATS-6 carries 18 scientific, meteorological, and communication experiments. Aspects of propellant requirements/usage are discussed and a description is presented of the propulsion subsystem. Attention is given to the electrical interface, aspects of control and monitoring, the thermal design, thruster performance, prelaunch test/operations, general on orbit performance, and propulsion anomalies and failures.