User:Kentholke/projects/vanguard 2

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Vanguard 2
Vanguard 2
Mission typeWeather satellite
Air density experiment
OperatorDepartment of the Navy
Harvard designation1959 Alpha 1
SATCAT no.11
Mission durationWeather observation: 19 days
Atmospheric density studies ongoing
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerNaval Research Laboratory
Launch mass10.8 kilograms (24 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date17 February 1959, 15:55 (1959-02-17UTC15:55Z) UTC[1]
RocketVanguard - SLV-4
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-18A
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMedium Earth
Semi-major axis8,127.72 kilometers (5,050.33 mi)[2]
Eccentricity0.1472316[2]
Perigee altitude560 kilometers (350 mi)[2]
Apogee altitude2,953 kilometers (1,835 mi)[2]
Inclination32.87 degrees[2]
Period121.54 minutes[2]
RAAN251.33 degrees[2]
Mean anomaly11.85 degrees[2]
Mean motion11.85[2]
Epoch24 January 2015, 14:43:44 UTC[2]
Revolution no.38,278[2]
Instruments
Radio beacon
Optical scanner
 


Vanguard 2 (SLV-4) was an earth-orbiting satellite launched from Cape Canaveral complex 18A on February 17, 1959. It was the second of three successfull launces of eleven toll in Project Vanguard. It was the first satellite designed to observe and record the Earth's cloud cover. While the overall mission of Vanguard 2 was considered "partially successfull," it's insertion into orbit around Earth gave the United States a more respectable standing against the Soviet Union in the space race.

Origin of the Vanguard Program[edit]

In 1952, the International Council of Scientific Unions recommended the launching of small satellites for the International Geophysical Year (IGY). The U.S. National Committee for the IGY studied the proposal and in March, 1955, issued reports to the National Acadamy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation in favor of the proposal.

Vanguard Design[edit]

Haste Makes Waste[edit]

Mission Objectives[edit]

Mission Timeline[edit]

Mission Results[edit]

Congratulatory letter to the participants of the Vanguard 2 launch.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "VANGUARD 2 Satellite details 1959-001A NORAD 11". N2YO. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.

Notes / Sources / Possible References[edit]

This section to be deleted

Category:1959 in space exploration Category:1959 in the United States Category:Artificial satellites orbiting Earth Category:Project Vanguard Category:Weather satellites

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