Vanguard 2

Launch data: Designation 00011 / 1959 Alpha 1 / 59001A Launch date 17 Feb 1959 - 15:55 UT Launch site CC, LC18A Launch vehicle Vanguard SLV-4 Satellite type 20in Cloud cover #2 Mission Scientific: high atmosphere study Earth orbit on Feb 17, 1959: Perigee/Apogee 559 x 3320 km Eccentricity  0.166 Inclination 32,88° Period 125,70 min Earth orbit on May 23, 2000 (.23): Perigee / Apogee  554 x 3018 km Eccentricity  0.151 Inclination  32,86° Period  122,35 min

Cloud cover satellite

Spacecraft data: Prime contractor   Operator  NASA Platform   Mass at launch  9.8 kg Dry Mass   kg Basic shape  Magnesium Sphere Dimension  50.8 cm dia (0.81 dia - ref206) Design lifetime  150 years

Mission details:

Vanguard SLV-3 and Vanguard 2 were earth-orbiting satellites designed to measure cloud-cover distribution over the daylight portion of its orbit. The spacecraft was a magnesium sphere 50.8 cm in diameter. It contained two optical telescopes with two photocells. The sphere was internally gold-plated and externally covered with an aluminum deposit coated with silicon oxide of sufficient thickness to provide thermal control for the instrumentation. Radio communication was provided by a 1 W, 108.03 MHz telemetry transmitter and a 10 mW, 108 MHz beacon transmitter that sent a continuous signal for tracking purposes. A command receiver was used to activate a tape recorder that relayed telescope experiment data to the telemetry transmitter. Both transmitters functioned normally for 19 days. The satellite was spin stabilized at 50 rpm, but telemetry data were poor because of an unsatisfactory orientation of the spin axis. The power supply for the instrumentation was provided by mercury batteries. 

Satellite tracking:

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel Port Canaveral