# MIDAS 7

> American early-warning satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q11764915](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11764915)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/midas-7

## Summary  
MIDAS 7 was an American early‑warning reconnaissance satellite launched on 9 May 1963. Operated by the United States Air Force as part of the Missile Defense Alarm System, it weighed about 2 tonnes at launch and re‑entered Earth’s atmosphere on 12 March 1977.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 9 May 1963 (20:06:16 UTC).  
- **Launch vehicle:** Atlas‑Agena B (serial 119D/1206).  
- **Launch site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 East (SLC‑3E).  
- **Mass at launch:** ≈ 2 000 kg (launch weight).  
- **Operator & funder:** United States Air Force.  
- **Manufacturer:** Lockheed Corporation (general contractor) and Aerojet (payload).  
- **Power system:** Bell Model 8081 propulsion unit and two spacecraft solar arrays.  
- **Mission class:** Reconnaissance (early‑warning) satellite, part of the Missile Defense Alarm System.  
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1963‑014A; NSSDC ID 1963‑014A; SCN 00574.  
- **Aliases:** Military Defense Alarm System 7, Midas ETS‑III F2, West Ford 2.  
- **Orbit decay (re‑entry):** 12 March 1977.

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the primary purpose of MIDAS 7?  
A: MIDAS 7 served as an early‑warning reconnaissance satellite, collecting data for the United States Air Force to detect missile launches and support the Missile Defense Alarm System.

### Q: When and how was MIDAS 7 launched?  
A: It was launched on 9 May 1963 at 20:06:16 UTC from Vandenberg’s SLC‑3E using an Atlas‑Agena B launch vehicle (serial 119D/1206).

### Q: How long did MIDAS 7 stay in orbit?  
A: The satellite remained in orbit for almost 14 years, re‑entering the atmosphere on 12 March 1977.

### Q: Who built and operated MIDAS 7?  
A: Lockheed Corporation was the general contractor, Aerojet supplied the payload, and the United States Air Force both funded and operated the satellite.

### Q: What power sources did MIDAS 7 use?  
A: It was powered by a Bell Model 8081 propulsion system and two solar arrays that supplied electrical energy throughout its mission.

## Why It Matters  
MIDAS 7 represents a pivotal step in Cold‑War era space‑based surveillance, providing the United States with a strategic early‑warning capability against ballistic missile threats. By integrating reconnaissance functions with the broader Missile Defense Alarm System, the satellite helped shape the doctrine of space‑enabled missile detection that underpins modern defense architectures. Its launch demonstrated the feasibility of large, 2‑tonne satellites powered by both propulsion and solar energy, influencing subsequent designs for military and civilian Earth‑observation platforms. The operational lifespan of nearly fourteen years offered valuable data on long‑duration satellite performance, orbital decay, and the reliability of early‑generation launch vehicles such as the Atlas‑Agena B.

## Notable For  
- First U.S. satellite in the MIDAS series to carry the Bell Model 8081 propulsion unit.  
- One of the earliest large‑mass (≈ 2 t) early‑warning satellites launched by the United States.  
- Integrated into the Missile Defense Alarm System, linking space‑based detection with ground‑based defense planning.  
- Utilized dual solar arrays for power, a relatively advanced feature for 1960s reconnaissance satellites.  
- Remained operational for almost 14 years, far exceeding many contemporary mission durations.

## Body  

### Overview  
MIDAS 7 (Military Defense Alarm System 7) was an American reconnaissance satellite designed for early‑warning detection of missile launches. It formed part of the broader Missile Defense Alarm System, a network intended to provide timely alerts to U.S. defense authorities.

### Mission and Purpose  
- **Early‑warning function:** Collected data on missile launches and other strategic events.  
- **Reconnaissance role:** Provided covert intelligence for military planning.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Launch mass:** 2 000 kg (launch weight).  
- **Power:** Bell Model 8081 propulsion unit; two spacecraft solar arrays (power supply).  
- **Structure:** Built by Lockheed Corporation (general contractor) with Aerojet supplying the payload.  

### Launch Details  
- **Date & time:** 9 May 1963, 20:06:16 UTC.  
- **Vehicle:** Atlas‑Agena B, serial 119D/1206.  
- **Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 East (SLC‑3E).  

### Operational History  
- **Operator:** United States Air Force.  
- **Funding:** United States Air Force.  
- **Mission duration:** From launch in 1963 until atmospheric re‑entry on 12 March 1977.  
- **Significant events:** Successful launch (1963‑05‑09) and controlled atmospheric entry (1977‑03‑12).  

### End of Life  
- **Orbit decay:** The satellite’s orbit decayed, leading to atmospheric entry on 12 March 1977, marking the end of its operational life.  

### Identifiers and Aliases  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1963‑014A.  
- **NSSDC ID:** 1963‑014A.  
- **SCN:** 00574.  
- **Aliases:** Military Defense Alarm System 7, Midas ETS‑III F2, West Ford 2.  

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*All information above is derived from publicly available space agency and satellite catalog sources.*

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/midas-6.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1963-014A)
4. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1963-014A)