ESSA-2

ESSA-2

ESSA 2
Mission type	Weather satellite
Operator	ESSA/NASA
COSPAR ID	1966-016A
SATCATno.	2091
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	RCA Astro
Launch mass	286 kilograms (631 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	February 3, 1966, 13:55(1966-02-03UTC13:55Z)UTC
Rocket	Delta E
Launch site	Cape CanaveralLC-17B
End of mission
Disposal	Decommissioned
Deactivated	October 16, 1970(1970-10-17)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Semi-major axis	7,115.60 kilometers (4,421.43 mi)
Eccentricity	0.00399
Perigee altitude	1,355 kilometers (842 mi)
Apogee altitude	1,415 kilometers (879 mi)
Inclination	101.3°
Period	113.5 minutes
Epoch	February 28, 1966
TOS

ESSA-2(orOT-2) was a spin-stabilized operational meteorological satellite. Its name was derived from that of its oversight agency, theEnvironmental Science Services Administration(ESSA).

Launch

Launch of ESSA-2.

ESSA-2 was launched on February 28, 1966, at 13:55UTC.It was launched atop aDeltarocket fromCape Canaveral,Florida.The spacecraft had a mass of 132 kilograms (291 lb) at the time of launch. ESSA-2 had an inclination of 101.3°, and an orbited the Earth once every 113 minutes. Itsperigeewas 1,355 kilometers (842 mi) and itsapogeewas 1,455 kilometers (904 mi).

Mission

ESSA-2 was a Sun-synchronouspolar-orbitingweather satellitewhose mission was to provide real-time pictures ofcloudcover using theautomatic picture transmissionsystem. These cloud cover pictures were used bymeteorologistsfor use inweather forecastingandanalysis.The satellite provided useful cloud pictures for more than four years before the camera systems were placed in standby mode on March 20, 1970. ESSA-2 was fully deactivated on October 16, 1970.

References

This article incorporatespublic domain materialfromESSA 2.National Aeronautics and Space Administration.RetrievedJune 4,2018.