Jump to content

Hitchhiker 2

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hitchhiker 2
Mission typeTechnology
OperatorUSAF
COSPAR ID1963-042B[1]
SATCAT no.682
Spacecraft properties
BusP-11
ManufacturerLockheed Martin / MIT
Launch mass60 kilograms (130 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateOctober 29, 1963, 21:19 (1963-10-29UTC21:19Z) UTC[2]
RocketThor SLV-2A Agena D 386
Launch siteVandenberg SLC-1W
End of mission
DeactivatedMay 23, 1965 (1965-05-24)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Eccentricity0.02201
Perigee altitude285 kilometres (177 mi)
Apogee altitude585 kilometres (364 mi)
Inclination89.9°
Period93.4 minutes
EpochOctober 29, 1963 (1963-10-29)
Launch of Hitchhiker 2.

Hitchhiker 2 (or P-11 4202, P-11 AS and OPS 3316) was a satellite launched by U.S. Air Force. It was launched with the aim of studying and measuring cosmic radiation. The satellite was the second successful satellite of the P-11 program, following the failure of the first Hitchhiker satellite in March 1963. It was launched on October 29, 1963 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on a Thor-Agena launch vehicle.

On May 23, 1965, the satellite re-entered the Earth's atmosphere.

Instruments

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center. "Hitch Hiker 2". NSSDC Master Catalog. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved June 1, 2018.