ATS-2
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.jpg) The ATS-2. | |
| Mission type | Weather satellite |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 1967-031A |
| SATCAT no. | 02743 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | HS-306 |
| Manufacturer | Hughes Aircraft |
| Launch mass | 324.3 kg (715 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | April 6, 1967, 03:21:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas Agena-D |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-12 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | September 2, 1969 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Highly Elliptical |
| Eccentricity | 0.4548 |
| Perigee altitude | 178 km (111 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 11,124 km (6,912 mi) |
| Inclination | 28.4º |
| Period | 218.9 minutes[1] |
ATS-2 (Applications Technology Satellite) was a communications satellite launched by NASA on April 6, 1967, on an Atlas-Agena D rocket from Cape Canaveral.[2][3]
The ATS-2 had the following objectives: test new concepts in spacecraft design, propulsion and stabilization; capture high quality images of cloud cover; collect data measurements in an aerospace environment; and test improved communication systems.[4]
Features
The satellite had a cylindrical shape with a 142 centimeters (56 in) diameter and a height of 183 cm (72 in).[5] After including the motor cover, the satellite was about 360 cm (140 in) tall. The surface of the satellite was covered by solar panels, and it utilized gravity-gradient stabilization for control.[6]
