# RCA-SATCOM 1
**Wikidata**: [Q16061283](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16061283)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rca-satcom-1

## Summary
RCA-SATCOM 1 is a communications satellite launched on December 13, 1975. It was deployed into orbit using a Delta 3000 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17. The satellite is classified as an artificial satellite designed specifically for telecommunications purposes.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Communications satellite (artificial satellite designed for telecommunications).
- **Launch Date:** December 13, 1975.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Delta 3000 (series of American expendable launch systems).
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1975-117A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 08476.
- **Significant Event:** Rocket launch occurring on December 13, 1975, at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/1pxxnz_0_

## FAQs
### Q: When was RCA-SATCOM 1 launched?
A: RCA-SATCOM 1 was launched on December 13, 1975.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch RCA-SATCOM 1?
A: The satellite was launched using a Delta 3000, which is a series of American expendable launch systems.

### Q: Where did the launch of RCA-SATCOM 1 take place?
A: The launch took place at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

### Q: What is the COSPAR ID for RCA-SATCOM 1?
A: The COSPAR ID (international designator) for this satellite is 1975-117A.

## Why It Matters
RCA-SATCOM 1 serves as a historical example of space-based infrastructure developed to facilitate global connectivity. As a communications satellite, its primary role was to act as an artificial satellite designed for telecommunications, relaying signals across distances that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to traverse via ground-based methods.

The deployment of RCA-SATCOM 1 is significant in the context of aerospace engineering and launch vehicle technology. It utilized the Delta 3000 launch system, representing a specific era of American expendable launch systems capable of delivering payloads to orbit. Launched in the mid-1970s, it contributes to the timeline of commercial and governmental efforts to expand communication networks. The mission underscores the operational capabilities of the era, specifically the coordination required to launch from facilities like Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17. As a man-made object tracked under the COSPAR ID 1975-117A, it remains a recorded part of humanity's expansion into near-Earth space for utility purposes.

## Notable For
- **Telecommunications Function:** Being an artificial satellite specifically designed to facilitate telecommunications.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Utilizing the Delta 3000 series of American expendable launch systems for deployment.
- **Historical Tracking:** Being a tracked object with a specific COSPAR ID (1975-117A) and Satellite Catalog Number (08476).
- **Launch Location:** Launching from the specific infrastructure of Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

## Body

### Classification and Purpose
RCA-SATCOM 1 is an instance of a **communications satellite**. By definition, this classifies it as an artificial satellite designed and utilized for telecommunications. Its primary function involves relaying communication signals across the Earth.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully delivered to space via a **rocket launch** event. Key details regarding this event include:
- **Date:** The launch occurred on December 13, 1975.
- **Location:** The start point for the mission was Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.
- **Vehicle:** The launch vehicle used was the **Delta 3000**, a series of American expendable launch systems.

### Identification and Records
RCA-SATCOM 1 is cataloged in international and national databases with specific identifiers:
- **COSPAR ID:** 1975-117A
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 08476

These identifiers allow for the precise tracking and differentiation of the satellite within the broader record of objects launched into space.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report