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Sphinx

Sphinx
Operator	NASA
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Space Plasma High Voltage Interaction Experiment
Spacecraft type	Satellite
Expedition
Began	February 11, 1974
Start of mission
Rocket	Titan IIIE Centaur

Sphinx is the designation of an American test satellite. The Sphinx satellite was the payload for the first Titan IIIE Centaur rocket. It was launched on February 11, 1974 from a Titan IIIE Centaur. However, the rocket did not reach Earth orbit because the second stage failed to ignite, at which point the range safety officer ordered the rocket destroyed. The satellite was destroyed along with its support, the launched with the Viking Dynamic Simulator.

SPHINX stood for Space Plasma High Voltage Interaction Experiment. It was designed to test high-voltage equipment in outer space.

See also

• 1974 in spaceflight

References

1. ^ "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
2. "Titan/Centaur failure is severe setback for NASA". New Scientist. February 21, 1974. Retrieved March 2, 2022.

External links

• Entry at Gunter's Space Page
• Entry at Encyclopedia Astronautica

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