Summary
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.
| Mission type | Communications |
|---|---|
| Operator | Intelsat |
| COSPAR ID | 1967-001A |
| SATCAT no. | 2639 |
| Mission duration | 3 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Intelsat II |
| Bus | HS-303A |
| Manufacturer | Hughes |
| Launch mass | 162 kilograms (357 lb) |
| BOL mass | 86 kilograms (190 lb) |
| Power | 85 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | January 11, 1967, 10:55:00 UTC[1] |
| Rocket | Delta E1 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-17B |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | c.1969[2] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geosynchronous |
| Longitude | 174° east[2] |
| Perigee altitude | 35,748 kilometers (22,213 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 35,845 kilometers (22,273 mi) |
| Inclination | 6.80 degrees |
| Period | 23.93 hours |
| Epoch | February 4, 2014, 11:35:30 UTC[3] |
The second of four Intelsat II satellites to be launched, Intelsat II F-2 was built by Hughes Aircraft around the HS-303A 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 SVM-1 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 edit
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ a b c Wade, Mark. "Intelsat 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ a b "INTELSAT 2-F2 Satellite details 1967-001A NORAD 2639". N2YO. February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Intelsat-2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ "INTELSAT 2 F-2". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
