Intelsat II F-2

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Intelsat II F-2
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorIntelsat
COSPAR ID1967-001A
SATCAT no.2639
Mission duration3 years
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeIntelsat II
Bus
ManufacturerHughes
Launch mass162 kilograms (357 lb)
BOL mass86 kilograms (190 lb)
Power85 watts
Start of mission
Launch dateJanuary 11, 1967, 10:55:00 (1967-01-11UTC10:55Z) UTC[1]
RocketDelta E1
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-17B
End of mission
Deactivatedc.1969 (1970)[2]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeosynchronous
Longitude174° east[2]
Perigee altitude35,748 kilometers (22,213 mi)
Apogee altitude35,845 kilometers (22,273 mi)
Inclination6.80 degrees
Period23.93 hours
EpochFebruary 4, 2014, 11:35:30 UTC[3]
 

Intelsat II F-2, also known as Lani Bird, was a communications satellite operated by Intelsat. Launched in 1967, it was operated in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 174 degrees east until 1969.

The second of four Intelsat II satellites to be launched, Intelsat II F-2 was built by Hughes Aircraft around the satellite bus. It carried two transponders, which were powered by body-mounted solar cells generating 85 watts of power.[4] The spacecraft had a mass of 162 kilograms (357 lb) at launch, decreasing to 86 kilograms (190 lb) by the beginning of its operational life.

Intelsat II F-2 was launched atop a Delta E1 rocket flying from Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch took place at 10:55:00 on January 11, 1967, with the spacecraft entering a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It fired an apogee motor to place itself into its operational geostationary orbit, arriving on-station at 174° East on February 4, 1967.[5] The satellite achieved around two years of operation at that slot before failing in 1969.[2]

As of February 4, 2014, Intelsat II F-2 was in an orbit with a perigee of 35,748 kilometers (22,213 mi), an apogee of 35,845 kilometers (22,273 mi), inclination of 6.80 degrees and an orbital period of 23.93 hours.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Wade, Mark. "Intelsat 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "INTELSAT 2-F2 Satellite details 1967-001A NORAD 2639". N2YO. February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  4. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Intelsat-2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  5. ^ "INTELSAT 2 F-2". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved February 8, 2014.

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