# SPARTAN 201-03

> American solar observatory flown during STS-69

**Wikidata**: [Q113148949](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113148949)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/spartan-201-03

## Summary
SPARTAN 201-03 was an American solar observatory deployed during the STS-69 Space Shuttle mission. It was part of NASA's SPARTAN series of free-flying space platforms designed for solar research.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: September 8, 1995  
- **Mission**: Flown during STS-69 Space Shuttle mission  
- **Purpose**: Solar observatory for studying the Sun's corona and solar wind  
- **Class**: Spacecraft (free-flying platform)  
- **Series**: SPARTAN (NASA's free-flying space platforms)  
- **Launch Site**: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1995-048B  
- **NSSDCA ID**: 1995-048B  
- **Alternative Names**: SPARTAN 201-3, SPARTAN201-3, SPARTAN 201-F3, SPTN-201-03  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the primary function of SPARTAN 201-03?  
A: SPARTAN 201-03 was designed as a solar observatory to study the Sun's corona and solar wind, providing critical data for understanding solar activity.  

### Q: Which Space Shuttle mission carried SPARTAN 201-03?  
A: It was deployed and retrieved during the STS-69 mission, launched on September 8, 1995.  

### Q: How does SPARTAN 201-03 relate to other SPARTAN missions?  
A: It was part of the SPARTAN series—a class of free-flying NASA platforms—specifically designated as SPARTAN 201-03 in the 201 subseries.  

### Q: What identifiers are associated with SPARTAN 201-03?  
A: Its COSPAR and NSSDCA IDs are both 1995-048B, with alternative names including SPARTAN 201-3 and SPTN-201-03.  

## Why It Matters  
SPARTAN 201-03 advanced solar physics research by providing high-resolution observations of the Sun's outer atmosphere. Its deployment during STS-69 demonstrated the effectiveness of free-flying platforms for targeted scientific investigations, contributing to models of solar wind dynamics and space weather prediction. As part of the SPARTAN program, it reinforced the Space Shuttle's role in deploying specialized instruments for astrophysical studies, bridging gaps between ground-based observations and more complex orbital missions.  

## Notable For  
- **Solar Focus**: Dedicated exclusively to solar corona and solar wind research  
- **Free-Flying Design**: Operated autonomously from the Space Shuttle during STS-69  
- **SPARTAN Series Member**: Part of NASA's reusable free-flying platform program  
- **1995 Deployment**: Launched on September 8, 1995, from Cape Canaveral  

## Body  
### Overview  
SPARTAN 201-03 was an American solar observatory classified as a spacecraft and part of the SPARTAN series. It was deployed during the STS-69 mission to study the Sun's corona and solar wind.  

### Mission Details  
- **Launch**: September 8, 1995, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17  
- **Mission Designation**: STS-69  
- **Primary Objective**: Solar corona and solar wind analysis  
- **Platform Type**: Free-flying space vehicle  

### Identification  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1995-048B  
- **NSSDCA ID**: 1995-048B  
- **Aliases**: SPARTAN 201-3, SPARTAN201-3, SPARTAN 201-F3, SPTN-201-03  
- **SCN**: 23668  

### Technical Classification  
- **Instance Of**: Spacecraft  
- **Part Of**: SPARTAN (series of free-flying space platforms)  
- **Country**: United States (inherited from SPARTAN class)