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.


NORAD ID: 574
Int'l Code: 1963-014A
Perigee: 3,624.9 km
Apogee: 3,677.8 km
Inclination: 87.3°
Period: 166.4 min
Launch date: May 9, 1963
Launch Vehicle: Atlas-Agena B
Launch Site: Point Arguello, United States
Mass: 2000.0 k
Source: United States (US)

a.k.a.
Missile Defense Alarm System 6
West Ford (2)
00574

This is a single 10 second exposure.

equipment used
Meade Starfinder 10
Philips Vesta Pro 680k webcam - SC3 with b/w ICX424AL-E ccd