# Westar 1

> American communications satellite launched in 1974

**Wikidata**: [Q7987106](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7987106)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westar_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/westar-1

## Summary  
Westar 1 is an American communications satellite that was launched on 13 April 1974 from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 aboard a Delta 2000 launch vehicle and placed into a geostationary orbit.

## Key Facts  
- **Type:** Communications satellite designed for telecommunications.  
- **Launch date:** 13 April 1974.  
- **Launch site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Delta 2000 series rocket.  
- **Orbit:** Geostationary orbit (satellite of geostationary orbit).  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1974‑022A.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 07250.  
- **Significant event:** Recorded as a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral on 13 April 1974.  
- **Wikipedia presence:** Article titled “Westar 1” with language versions in English, Ido, Latvian, and Portuguese.  
- **Classification links:** Belongs to the broader class of communications satellites and is related to the Delta 2000 launch system.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Westar 1?  
**A:** Westar 1 was built as a communications satellite to provide telecommunications services from geostationary orbit.  

### Q: When and how was Westar 1 launched?  
**A:** It was launched on 13 April 1974 from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 using a Delta 2000 launch vehicle.  

### Q: What orbit does Westar 1 occupy?  
**A:** Westar 1 operates in a geostationary orbit, remaining fixed relative to a point on Earth’s surface.  

### Q: What identifiers are associated with Westar 1?  
**A:** Its COSPAR ID is 1974‑022A and its Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) is 07250.  

### Q: Which launch system is Westar 1 linked to?  
**A:** The satellite was launched with the American Delta 2000 series, an expendable launch system.  

## Why It Matters  
Westar 1 represents an early step in the United States’ development of commercial satellite communications. By placing a dedicated communications payload into geostationary orbit, the satellite enabled continuous, wide‑area telecommunication links that were not possible with ground‑based infrastructure alone. Its launch demonstrated the reliability of the Delta 2000 launch vehicle for placing valuable payloads into high‑energy orbits, contributing to confidence in subsequent commercial and governmental satellite missions. As part of the broader class of communications satellites, Westar 1 helped lay the groundwork for the modern satellite‑based services that underpin global broadcasting, data transmission, and networking today. Understanding Westar 1’s specifications, launch context, and orbital role provides insight into the evolution of satellite technology and the early commercial space era.  

## Notable For  
- First use of a Delta 2000 rocket to place a communications satellite into geostationary orbit.  
- Assigned the unique identifiers COSPAR 1974‑022A and SCN 07250, linking it to international tracking databases.  
- Operates in a geostationary orbit, enabling continuous coverage of a fixed Earth region.  
- Documented across multiple language Wikipedia pages, reflecting its international relevance.  
- Classified explicitly as a communications satellite, tying it to the broader telecommunications satellite ecosystem.  

## Body  

### Overview  
- Westar 1 is classified as a **communications satellite** (instance_of).  
- Its primary mission is to support telecommunications from a **geostationary orbit**.  

### Launch Details  
- **Date:** 13 April 1974 (launch_date).  
- **Location:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 (start_point).  
- **Vehicle:** Delta 2000 series rocket (launch_vehicle).  
- The launch is recorded as a **significant event**: a rocket launch at the specified site and time.  

### Orbital Characteristics  
- Placed into a **geostationary orbit**, allowing the satellite to remain over the same longitude.  
- This orbit is essential for continuous communication services without the need for ground‑based tracking.  

### Identification Numbers  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1974‑022A, an international designator for space objects.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 07250, used by tracking agencies.  
- **Freebase ID:** /m/05d3nz, linking to legacy data repositories.  

### Related Classes and Systems  
- Belongs to the **communications satellite** class, a subset of artificial satellites designed for telecom functions.  
- Associated with the **Delta 2000** launch system, an American series of expendable rockets used for a variety of payloads.  

### Documentation and References  
- Listed on Wikipedia under the title **Westar 1** with language versions in English, Ido, Latvian, and Portuguese.  
- Recorded in Wikidata with a description: “American communications satellite launched in 1974.”  
- Recognized in Wolfram Language as Entity["Satellite", "07250"].

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report