Telstar 2

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

11:38:03

Tuesday May 7, 1963

Watch Replay

24/7 Coverage

Mission Details

Telstar 2

Wiki

Telstar 2, primarily a communications satellite, carried an experiment designed to measure the energetic proton and electron distribution in the Van Allen belts. The spacecraft spin axis shortly after launch was about 80 deg to the ecliptic plane. The initial spin rate was 180 rpm, and it varied slowly over the life of the spacecraft. Telstar 2 was essentially identical to the Telstar 1 satellite. It employed two transmitters, and data were telemetered via a PCM/FM/AM encoder. The telemetry sequence required about 1 min. Telstar 2 differed from Telstar 1 by employing provisions for scientific information to be transmitted in real-time via the microwave telemetry system so that telemetry could be obtained after the 2 years timer had turned off the VHF beacon. On May 16, 1965, at 1403 UT, during the satellite's 4736 orbit, the VHF transmitter was turned off. All systems operated normally until that time.

Medium Earth Orbit

1 Payload

Rocket

Retired
Delta B

Active 1962 to 1964


Payload to Orbit

LEO: 375 kg

GTO: 68 kg

Stages

3

Launch Site

SLC-17B

Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Fastest Turnaround

20 days 2 hours

Stats

Delta B


4th

Mission

3rd

Mission of 1963

1963


20th

Orbital launch attempt