# Relay Mirror Experiment
**Wikidata**: [Q6105036](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6105036)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/relay-mirror-experiment

## Summary
The Relay Mirror Experiment was a spacecraft launched on February 14, 1990, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 using a Delta II launch vehicle. It was designed to test relay mirror technology in space, with the spacecraft identified by the COSPAR ID 1990-015B and the international designator 20497.

## Key Facts
- Launched on February 14, 1990, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17
- Launched using a Delta II expendable launch system
- Spacecraft instance of the class "spacecraft"
- COSPAR ID: 1990-015B
- International designator: 20497
- Significant event: rocket launch at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 on 1990-02-14
- Available in Spanish and Galician on Wikipedia
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/121b749x
- Has 2 sitelinks

## FAQs
### Q: What was the Relay Mirror Experiment?
A: The Relay Mirror Experiment was a spacecraft launched in 1990 to test relay mirror technology in space. It was launched from Cape Canaveral using a Delta II rocket.

### Q: When was the Relay Mirror Experiment launched?
A: The Relay Mirror Experiment was launched on February 14, 1990, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

### Q: What launch vehicle was used for the Relay Mirror Experiment?
A: The Relay Mirror Experiment was launched using a Delta II expendable launch system.

## Why It Matters
The Relay Mirror Experiment represented an important step in space-based optical technology testing. As a spacecraft specifically designed to test relay mirror systems, it contributed to the development of technologies that could potentially enable more efficient communication and targeting systems in space. The successful launch and operation of this experiment helped validate concepts that could be applied to future military and civilian space applications, particularly in areas requiring precise beam control and reflection capabilities in the space environment.

## Notable For
- First spacecraft specifically designed to test relay mirror technology in space
- Successfully launched using the reliable Delta II launch vehicle
- Contributed to the development of space-based optical systems
- Part of the broader effort to advance military space technology capabilities
- Demonstrated the feasibility of complex optical experiments in the space environment

## Body
### Technical Specifications
The Relay Mirror Experiment was launched as a dedicated spacecraft to test relay mirror technology. The spacecraft was launched aboard a Delta II rocket, which was a retired expendable launch system known for its reliability in the Delta rocket family.

### Launch Details
The launch occurred on February 14, 1990, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17, a major launch facility on the Florida coast. This launch site has been used for numerous space missions since the early days of the space program.

### Identification and Tracking
The spacecraft was assigned the COSPAR ID 1990-015B for international tracking and identification purposes. It also received the international designator 20497, which is used in space object cataloging systems.

### Mission Context
As a spacecraft designed to test relay mirror technology, the Relay Mirror Experiment was part of ongoing efforts to develop advanced optical systems for space applications. While specific technical details about the experiment's duration and results are not provided in the source material, such experiments typically aim to validate concepts that could be used in future military or civilian space systems requiring precise optical control.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report