# MIDAS 1

> American early-warning satellite destroyed in a launch failure

**Wikidata**: [Q8880899](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8880899)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/midas-1

## Summary
MIDAS 1 was an American early-warning reconnaissance satellite designed to detect missile launches. It was destroyed during a launch failure on February 26, 1960. The satellite was part of the Missile Defense Alarm System (MIDAS) program operated by the United States Air Force.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** February 26, 1960, at 17:25:30 UTC  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Atlas-Agena A (serial number 29D/1008)  
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 14  
- **Mass:** 2,300 kg (launch weight)  
- **Diameter:** 1.5 meters  
- **Operator:** United States Air Force  
- **Manufacturer:** Lockheed Corporation (general contractor), Aerojet (payload)  
- **Power Source:** Bell Model 8048 propulsion system and batteries  
- **Apoapsis:** 4,500 km (intended orbit)  
- **Status:** Destroyed during launch failure  

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of MIDAS 1?  
A: MIDAS 1 was designed as an early-warning satellite to detect ballistic missile launches using infrared sensors, part of the U.S. military's Missile Defense Alarm System.  

### Q: Why did MIDAS 1 fail?  
A: The satellite was destroyed during launch due to a failure of the Atlas-Agena A rocket shortly after liftoff on February 26, 1960.  

### Q: Who built MIDAS 1?  
A: Lockheed Corporation served as the general contractor, while Aerojet manufactured the payload. The U.S. Air Force funded and operated the program.  

## Why It Matters  
MIDAS 1 represented an early attempt to develop space-based missile detection capabilities, a critical component of Cold War-era defense strategy. Although the mission failed, the MIDAS program laid the groundwork for later early-warning systems like the Defense Support Program (DSP) and Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS). These systems remain vital for global security, providing advance notice of missile launches. The failure of MIDAS 1 also highlighted the technical challenges of space-based reconnaissance, influencing subsequent satellite designs and launch protocols.  

## Notable For  
- **First Satellite in the MIDAS Program:** Pioneered the U.S. military's space-based missile detection efforts.  
- **Heavyweight Payload:** At 2,300 kg, it was one of the heavier reconnaissance satellites of its era.  
- **Infrared Early-Warning Concept:** Introduced the use of infrared sensors for missile launch detection, a technology still in use today.  

## Body  
### Launch and Failure  
- Launched on February 26, 1960, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 14.  
- Destroyed due to an Atlas-Agena A rocket failure shortly after liftoff.  
- No payload reached orbit; mission declared a total loss.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Mass:** 2,300 kg (launch weight).  
- **Diameter:** 1.5 meters.  
- **Power System:** Bell Model 8048 propulsion and battery-powered electric systems.  
- **Intended Orbit:** Apoapsis of 4,500 km.  

### Program Context  
- Part of the Missile Defense Alarm System (MIDAS), a U.S. Air Force initiative.  
- Followed by MIDAS 2, which launched later in 1960.  
- Manufacturer: Lockheed (primary contractor) and Aerojet (payload).  

### Legacy  
- Demonstrated the feasibility of infrared missile detection from space.  
- Paved the way for more advanced early-warning satellite systems.  
- Highlighted the risks of early space launch technology.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/midas-1.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=MIDAS1)