Stats[]
| Category. | Statistic. |
|---|---|
| Launch vehicle. | Titan IIIE / Centaur. |
| Launch date. | 1974-12-10 07:11:01.5 UTC (A) and 1976-01-15 05:34:00 UTC (B). |
| Launch site. | Cape Canaveral Air Force Station SLC-41. |
| Ceased operations. | February 18th, 1985 (A) and December 23, 1979 (B). |
| Owner(s). | DFVLR (70% share) and NASA (30% share). |
| Major contractor(s) . | Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MMB). |
| Is it still in orbit. | Unknown, probably burnt up by the Sun. |
| Launch mass. | 370 kg (820 lb). |
| Nationality(s). | W. Germany with American technical and fiscal help. |
| Satellite type. | Sun orbiter. |
| Links. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios_(spacecraft) and http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/. |
History[]
Prototype of the Helios spacecraft A Helios spacecraft prototype was encapsulated in its payload fairing in the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility [SAEF] here today. A flight version of the West German-built solar probe will be launched aboard a Titan/Centaur from Complex 41. The prototype is to be moved to Complex 41 for mating with the Titan/Centaur in early October. It will be removed and returned to the SAEF after completion of the Titan/Centaur terminal countdown demonstration in late October.
Helios 1-s/Helios-A was such a success it was flowed by the identical Helios 2-s/Helios-B a year later.