Samos 2

Last updated
Samos 2
Mission typeReconnaissance
Operator United States Air Force
Harvard designation1961 Alpha 1
COSPAR ID 1961-001A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 00070 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Mission duration1 month
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type Samos-E1
Bus Agena-A
Start of mission
Launch dateJanuary 31, 1961, 20:31:19 (1961-01-31UTC20:31:19Z) UTC
Rocket Atlas LV-3A Agena-A 70D
Launch site Point Arguello LC-1-1
End of mission
Decay dateOctober 21, 1973
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Sun-synchronous Low Earth
Perigee altitude 474 kilometers (295 mi)
Apogee altitude 553 kilometers (344 mi)
Inclination 97.4 degrees
Period 94.9 minutes
 

Samos 2 was an American reconnaissance satellite launched in 1961 as part of the Samos program. It was an early electro-optical reconnaissance spacecraft, meaning that it transmitted images to receiving stations on Earth rather than returning them in a film capsule. Samos 2 was a Samos-E1 spacecraft, based on an Agena-A. [1]

The launch of Samos 2 occurred at 20:31:19 UTC on January 31, 1961. An Atlas LV-3A Agena-A rocket was used, flying from Launch Complex 1-1 at the Point Arguello Naval Air Station. [2] Ten minutes and fourteen seconds later, the Agena's engine cut off, having successfully achieved a low Earth orbit. [3] It was assigned the Harvard designation 1961 Alpha 1.

Samos 2 operated in a Sun-synchronous low Earth orbit, with an apogee of 553 kilometres (344 mi), a perigee of 474 kilometres (295 mi), an inclination of 97.4 degrees, and a period of 94.9 minutes. [4] The satellite had a mass of 1,915 kilograms (4,222 lb), [3] and measured 6.86 metres (22.5 ft) in length, with a diameter of 1.52 metres (5 ft 0 in). [5] It operated successfully, but the images returned were poor. [6] Designed to operate for around ten days, [1] it ceased operations around a month after launch, [3] and decayed from orbit on October 21, 1973. [4]

Related Research Articles

Discoverer 30, also known as Corona 9022, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-3 Corona''' satellite, based on an Agena-B rocket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discoverer 25</span> Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 25, also known as Corona 9017, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was the fifth of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.

OPS 3762, also known as FTV-2355, was an American reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1964. It was the first radar imaging satellite to be launched, and the only Quill spacecraft to fly. Its mission was to demonstrate radar imaging techniques for future missions. However, the programme was cancelled before any more satellites were launched.

Samos 3 was an American reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 1961. It was an early electro-optical reconnaissance spacecraft, meaning that it transmitted images to receiving stations on Earth rather than returning them in a film capsule, and was to have been operated as part of the Samos programme. Samos 3 was the only Samos-E2 spacecraft to be launched. Samos-E2 satellites were based on an Agena-B, and carried a camera with a focal length of 91 centimetres (36 in), and a resolution of 6 metres (20 ft).

Samos 4 was an American reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 1961. It was a film-return reconnaissance spacecraft, meaning that it returned images in a film capsule at the end of its mission. It was operated as part of the Samos programme. Samos 4 was the first of three Samos-E5 spacecraft to be launched; Samos-E5 satellites were based on an Agena-B, and carried a camera with a focal length of 1.67 metres, and a resolution of 1.5 metres.

FTV-2203, also known as Samos 5, was an American reconnaissance satellite launched in 1961 as part of the Samos programme. It was a film return reconnaissance spacecraft, meaning that it returned images in a film capsule at the end of its mission. FTV-2203 was a Samos-E5 spacecraft, based on the Agena-B. It carried a camera with a focal length of 1.67 metres and a resolution of 1.5 metres.

Discoverer 23, also known as KH-5 9016A, was a USAF photographic reconnaissance satellite under the supervision of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-5 ARGON satellite, based on an Agena-B. It was the second KH-5 mission to be launched, and the second to end in failure.

FTV-1126, also known as Corona 9034A, was an American area survey optical reconnaissance satellite launched in 1962. It was a KH-5 Argon satellite, based on an Agena-B. It was also unofficially known as Discoverer 41, a continuation of the designation sequence used for previous US reconnaissance satellites, which had officially been discontinued after Discoverer 38. It was the first KH-5 satellite to complete its mission successfully.

FTV-1132, also known as the Corona 9042A, was an American area survey optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1962. It was a KH-5 Argon satellite, based on an Agena-B. The satellite operated successfully, but its film capsule was lost during recovery due to a parachute failure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discoverer 22</span> Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 22, also known as Corona 9015, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 1961. It was the fourth of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discoverer 26</span> Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 26, also known as Corona 9019, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was the sixth of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discoverer 28</span> Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 28, also known as Corona 9021, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 1961. It was the seventh of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.

Discoverer 29, also known as Corona 9023, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was the first KH-3 Corona''' satellite, which was based on an Agena-B rocket.

Discoverer 31, also known as Corona 9024, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-3 Corona''' satellite, based on an Agena-B.

Discoverer 32, also known as Corona 9025, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-3 Corona''' satellite, based on an Agena-B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discoverer 33</span> Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 33, also known as Corona 9026, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 1961. It was the eighth of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discoverer 35</span> Reconnaissance satellite

Discoverer 35, also known as Corona 9028, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was the last of ten Corona KH-2 satellites, based on the Agena-B.

Discoverer 36, also known as Corona 9029, was an American optical reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a KH-3 Corona satellite, based on an Agena-B rocket. It was the penultimate KH-3 satellite to be launched, the last successful mission, and the most successful of the program.

Discoverer 21, also known as RM-2, was an American satellite which was launched in 1961. It was a technology demonstration spacecraft, based on an Agena-B.

Discoverer 19, also known as RM-1, was an American satellite which was launched in 1960. It was a technology demonstration spacecraft, based on an Agena-B.

References

  1. 1 2 Krebs, Gunter. "Samos E-1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  2. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 McDowell, Jonathan. "SAMOS 2". The History of Spaceflight. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  4. 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Pioneer/Samos-A". FAS. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  6. ↑ Wade, Mark. "Samos". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on January 16, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.