Aug 9 1979
From The Space Library
NASA launched Westar 3, the last of three craft built for Western Union by Hughes Aircraft, from ETR at 8:20 p.m. on a Delta into a transfer orbit before going into synchronous orbit at 9148-W over the equator south of New Orleans, La. Launch was 53 minutes behind schedule because of two problems: a USAF computer at ETR shut down about 4 minutes before liftoff and took 37 minutes to correct; then, 30 seconds before liftoff, a liquid-oxygen valve door showed open, and several checks were needed to confirm that the door was shut before launch. McDonnell Douglas was to get a million-dollar incentive bonus for 15 straight successful launches. (NASA MOR M-492-203-79-03 [prelaunch] Aug 7/79, [postlaunch] Oct 25/79; Today, Aug 10/79, 14A; DISD, Aug 13/79, 205; Aug 17/79,233; NASA Hq WB Aug 20/79)
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