# HILAT

> U.S. Air Force research satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q10892857](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10892857)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hilat

## Summary
HILAT was a U.S. Air Force research satellite launched in 1983 to conduct high-latitude scientific studies. It was developed under the Space Test Program and used a Scout D-1 launch vehicle, contributing to advancements in military and space research. HILAT was succeeded by the Polar BEAR satellite.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: June 27, 1983, at 15:37:09 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Scout D-1 (serial number S205C) from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 5.
- **Manufacturer**: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
- **Sponsor**: U.S. Air Force Space Test Program.
- **COSPAR ID**: 1983-063A.
- **Preceded By**: None (first in its series); **Succeeded By**: Polar BEAR.
- **Classifications**: Research satellite, military satellite.
- **Spacecraft Bus**: Transit.

## FAQs
### Q: When was HILAT launched?
A: HILAT was launched on June 27, 1983, at 15:37:09 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 5.

### Q: What was the purpose of HILAT?
A: HILAT was designed for high-latitude scientific research as part of the U.S. Air Force’s Space Test Program.

### Q: What vehicle launched HILAT?
A: HILAT was launched using a Scout D-1 rocket, a U.S. space launch vehicle.

## Why It Matters
HILAT played a role in advancing U.S. military and scientific research capabilities during the 1980s. As part of the Space Test Program, it tested technologies and conducted experiments in high-latitude regions, contributing to broader efforts to understand Earth’s environment and space-based systems. Its mission laid groundwork for subsequent satellites like Polar BEAR, demonstrating the integration of military and scientific objectives in space exploration. HILAT’s use of the Transit spacecraft bus also highlighted the adaptability of existing satellite designs for specialized research tasks.

## Notable For
- First satellite in a series leading to the Polar BEAR mission.
- Utilized the Transit spacecraft bus, originally designed for navigation satellites.
- Part of the Scout D-1 launch vehicle’s mission portfolio, known for cost-effective small satellite launches.
- Conducted research in high-latitude regions critical for understanding auroral and geomagnetic phenomena.

## Body
### Launch Details
- **Date/Time**: June 27, 1983, at 15:37:09 UTC.
- **Launch Site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 5, California, USA.
- **Rocket**: Scout D-1 (S205C), a four-stage solid-propellant launch vehicle.

### Design and Mission
- **Manufacturer**: Built by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
- **Spacecraft Bus**: Based on the Transit navigation satellite design.
- **Purpose**: Conduct high-latitude scientific research, including studies of the ionosphere and magnetosphere.

### Legacy
- **Sponsorship**: Funded by the U.S. Air Force Space Test Program.
- **Succession**: Followed by the Polar BEAR satellite, which expanded on its research objectives.
- **Identification**: COSPAR ID 1983-063A, SCN 14154.

### Technical Specifications
- **Launch Vehicle**: Scout D-1 (retired in 1991 after 118 launches).
- **Mission Type**: Military/research hybrid, reflecting 1980s U.S. space priorities.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Satellite",
  "name": "HILAT",
  "description": "U.S. Air Force research satellite launched in 1983 for high-latitude scientific studies.",
  "url": "http://www.astronautix.com/h/hilat.html",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HILAT"
  ],
  "additionalType": "https://schema.org/Satellite",
  "manufacturer": "Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory",
  "launchDate": "1983-06-27",
  "cosparId": "1983-063A",
  "nssdcaId": "1983-063A",
  "launchVehicle": "Scout D-1"
}

## References

1. [Source](http://www.astronautix.com/h/hilat.html)
2. Jonathan's Space Report