The first launch carrying Intelsat III F-1 on 18 September 1968, was a complete failure when the first stage began suffering abnormal pitch gyrations starting at T+20 seconds.

The booster maintained a stable attitude until around T+100 seconds when it pitched over and began to break up from structural loads.

As the Delta was also headed back towards land, Range Safety Officer sent the destruct signal at T+108 seconds.

It was bound for a Geostationary transfer orbit above the Atlantic Ocean and be in operation in time to relay broadcasts of the next month's 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

[1][2][3] The fifth launch on 25 July 1969, Intelsat III F-5 suffered a rupture of either the third stage casing or nozzle and ended up in an unusable orbit.