ATS-2
Spacecraft · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Credit: NASA
American communications technology satellite. ATS 2. ATS-2 was placed into an undesirable orbit due to a launch vehicle failure.
Atmospheric torques in this orbit overcame the satellite's gravity gradient stabilization system, and caused a slow tumble. Although the satellite remained functional, the satellite was deactivated after six months due to the limited amount of data that could be received from the spacecraft. Spacecraft: Aluminum structure, drum solar array providing 125W BOL, 2 6 Ah NiCd batteries, gravity gradient stabilization. Payload: Meteorological experiments, C-band communications package
Related
- Country
- USA
- Launch Vehicles
- Atlas, Atlas SLV-3 Agena D
- Projects
- ATS
- Launch Sites
- Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LC12
Photo Gallery
ATS 2
Credit: Manufacturer Image
Chronology
1 event
1967 April 6
03:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC12. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas SLV-3 Agena D. FAILURE: Partial Failure.. Failed Stage: U.- ATS 2 - . Payload: ATS A. Mass: 370 kg (810 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Program: ATS. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: ATS. Spacecraft: ATS-2. Decay Date: 1969-09-02 . USAF Sat Cat: 2743 . COSPAR: 1967-031A. Apogee: 11,119 km (6,909 mi). Perigee: 177 km (109 mi). Inclination: 28.40 deg. Period: 218.80 min. Launch vehicle failure left in useless orbit; communications tests..