Rocket Set to Orbit ‘Star Wars’ Satellites

Two “Star Wars” satellites that will perform an orbital ballet are expected to be launched here next week aboard a Delta rocket, informed sources said Friday.

The launch, expected next Thursday or Friday, will mark the first flight of a Delta since the rockets were grounded after a failure in May. It also will be the first major space mission for the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, which manages President Reagan’s missile defense program, popularly known as Star Wars.

Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine also reported Friday that the launch is set for next Thursday.

Defense officials reportedly had hoped to keep the launch secret until a few hours before liftoff.

Plan Secret Launch

The launch originally was scheduled for mid-August and National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials planned to conduct the mission “in the open,” apparently with the permission of the SDI office in Washington. But after Delta No. 178 malfunctioned in May, the Defense Department abruptly decided to classify the SDI mission and a new launch date was cloaked in secrecy, the sources said.

The sources, who spoke on condition they not be identified, said that after the three-stage Delta places the two satellites in a low orbit they will separate and fly an intricate set of maneuvers as they circle each other, using small thrusters to change position.

The objectives, they said, are to obtain data and to test guidance and navigation systems.

One element of the Star Wars defense system envisions scores of space-based satellites equipped with lasers and other anti-missile devices. Presumably the satellites in next week’s launch will track each other.

Consider Delta Reliable

A Delta lost first stage thrust 71 seconds after liftoff here on May 3 and was blown up by the range safety officer when it went out of control. Destroyed with the rocket was a $57.5-million weather satellite.

Investigators affirmed the basic design of the Delta is reliable. The failure on May 3 was only the 12th for the Delta in 178 launches and ended a streak of 43 straight successes for the booster.

The Delta scheduled for launch Thursday has a new relay box, a backup battery and wiring changes.