# Orion 3

> American communications satellite which was placed into an incorrect orbit after launch

**Wikidata**: [Q7102764](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7102764)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_3)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/orion-3

## Summary
Orion 3 is an American communications satellite operated by Loral Space & Communications that was launched on May 5, 1999. The satellite was placed into an incorrect, unintentional medium Earth orbit after launch from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 aboard a Delta III rocket.

## Key Facts
- Orion 3 is an American communications satellite operated by Loral Space & Communications.  
- Launch date: 1999-05-05.  
- Launch vehicle: Delta III (a retired expendable launch system in the Delta rocket family).  
- Launch site / start point: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.  
- Orbital outcome: placed into an incorrect, unintentional medium Earth orbit after launch.  
- COSPAR ID: 1999-024A.  
- Satellite catalog number (scn): 25727.  
- Instance of: communications satellite; listed as a former entity.  
- Freebase ID: /m/076ww0x.  
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "25727"].

## FAQs
### Q: What happened to Orion 3 after launch?
A: Orion 3 was placed into an incorrect orbit after its launch on May 5, 1999. The recorded orbital classification is medium Earth orbit and that orbit placement was unintentional.

### Q: Who operated Orion 3 and what launch vehicle was used?
A: Orion 3 was operated by Loral Space & Communications and was launched aboard a Delta III rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

### Q: When and where was Orion 3 launched?
A: Orion 3 was launched on 1999-05-05 from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 in Florida.

## Why It Matters
Orion 3 is significant as an example of a communications satellite whose mission was affected by a launch anomaly resulting in placement into an unintended orbit. Communications satellites are built and launched to precise orbital parameters to provide telecommunications services; deviations from planned insertion can prevent satellites from performing their intended roles or require complex corrective actions. As an American commercial satellite operated by Loral Space & Communications and launched on the Delta III vehicle, Orion 3’s outcome is part of the operational record for both the satellite operator and the launch system. The incident highlights the technical and operational challenges in orbital insertion and the critical importance of reliable launch performance for commercial telecommunications infrastructure. Its catalog identifiers and launch data are preserved in public records (COSPAR 1999-024A; SCN 25727), making Orion 3 a documented case in spaceflight and satellite operations history.

## Notable For
- Being an American communications satellite that was placed into an incorrect orbit after launch.  
- Launch on 1999-05-05 from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 aboard a Delta III rocket.  
- Operation by Loral Space & Communications.  
- Registration under COSPAR ID 1999-024A and satellite catalog number 25727.  
- Classified as a communications satellite and recorded as a former entity in the catalog records.

## Body
### Overview
- Name: Orion 3.  
- Type: communications satellite.  
- Operator: Loral Space & Communications.  
- Designation: COSPAR 1999-024A; satellite catalog number 25727.  
- Freebase ID: /m/076ww0x.  
- Wolfram Language entity: Entity["Satellite", "25727"].

### Launch
- Launch date: 1999-05-05.  
- Launch vehicle: Delta III (a retired expendable launch system in the Delta rocket family).  
- Launch site / start point: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.  
- Significant event recorded: rocket launch at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 on 1999-05-05.

### Orbital outcome
- Satellite_of: medium Earth orbit.  
- Qualifier on orbital outcome: the medium Earth orbit placement was unintentional — the satellite was placed into an incorrect orbit after launch.

### Identification and records
- COSPAR ID: 1999-024A.  
- Satellite catalog number (SCN): 25727.  
- Freebase identifier: /m/076ww0x.  
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "25727"].  
- Wikipedia title: Orion 3 (articles available in English and Portuguese).

### Classification and status
- Instance of: communications satellite.  
- Also recorded as a former entity in cataloging metadata.  
- Associated launch system: Delta III (part of the Delta rocket family).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report