# RCA-SATCOM 3R
**Wikidata**: [Q16061274](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16061274)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rca-satcom-3r

## Summary
RCA-SATCOM 3R is an artificial communications satellite launched on November 20, 1981, to facilitate telecommunications. It was placed into orbit using a Delta 3000 expendable launch vehicle departing from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Communications satellite (artificial satellite designed for telecommunications)
- **Launch Date:** November 20, 1981
- **Launch Vehicle:** Delta 3000 (American expendable launch system)
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 12967
- **COSPAR ID:** 1981-114A
- **Instance of:** Communications satellite
- **Significant Event:** Rocket launch on 1981-11-20

## FAQs
### Q: What is the purpose of RCA-SATCOM 3R?
A: RCA-SATCOM 3R is a communications satellite, which is an artificial satellite specifically designed to support telecommunications. It serves as a relay in space for transmitting data and signals.

### Q: When and where was RCA-SATCOM 3R launched?
A: The satellite was launched on November 20, 1981. The launch took place at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 in the United States.

### Q: Which rocket was used to carry RCA-SATCOM 3R into space?
A: RCA-SATCOM 3R was launched using a Delta 3000 series rocket. The Delta 3000 is a class of American expendable launch systems used for various satellite deployments.

## Why It Matters
RCA-SATCOM 3R represents a critical point in the development of 1980s telecommunications infrastructure. As an artificial satellite designed for telecommunications, it contributed to the expanding network of orbital assets that allow for long-distance communication and data transmission. Its successful deployment highlights the operational role of the Delta 3000 series of American expendable launch systems during this era of space flight.

The satellite's launch from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 underscores the importance of established spaceports in building global communication networks. By occupying a specific orbital position identified by COSPAR ID 1981-114A and SCN 12967, RCA-SATCOM 3R became part of the verifiable history of satellite technology. Its existence solved the problem of providing reliable telecommunications coverage from space, moving beyond the limitations of terrestrial-only systems. For researchers and historians, RCA-SATCOM 3R serves as a primary example of the technical specifications and launch protocols used by the United States to maintain its telecommunications capabilities during the early 1980s.

## Notable For
- **Launch Vehicle:** Deployed via the Delta 3000, a specific series of American expendable launch systems.
- **Orbital Tracking:** Identified by the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 12967 and COSPAR ID 1981-114A.
- **Launch Site:** Launched from the historic Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.
- **Functional Class:** Specifically categorized as an artificial satellite designed for telecommunications.

## Body

### Launch and Deployment
RCA-SATCOM 3R was launched on November 20, 1981. The mission was executed from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17. The satellite was carried into space by a Delta 3000 launch vehicle, which is part of a broader class of American expendable launch systems. This significant event marked the satellite's transition from a ground-based asset to an active orbital telecommunications platform.

### Technical Specifications and Identification
The satellite is cataloged under several international identification systems:
- **SCN:** 12967
- **COSPAR ID:** 1981-114A
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/1pxxn_24s

These identifiers allow for the precise tracking of the satellite within the orbital environment and provide a reference for academic and technical documentation.

### Classification
RCA-SATCOM 3R is an "instance of" a communications satellite. This classification defines it as an artificial satellite designed specifically for telecommunications. It belongs to a class of satellites that are essential for the relay of signals across the globe, facilitating various forms of electronic communication.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report