NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Echo 2

Launch Time
Sat Jan 25, 1964 13:59 UTC

Rocket

Thor DM-21 Agena-B
US Air Force
Status: Retired
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 0

Mission Details

Echo 2

Echo 2 was a 41.1-meter-diameter (135 ft) balloon satellite, the last launched by Project Echo. A revised inflation system was used for the balloon, to improve its smoothness and sphericity. Echo 2's skin was rigidizable, unlike that of Echo 1A. Therefore, the balloon was capable of maintaining its shape without a constant internal pressure; a long-term supply of inflation gas was not needed, and it could easily survive strikes from micrometeoroids. The balloon was constructed from "a 0.35 mil (9 µm) thick mylar film sandwiched between two layers of 0.18 mil (4.5 µm) thick aluminum foil and bonded together."

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 66.0 kg

Location

SLC-2E (75-1-1), Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Stats

1964

4th orbital launch attempt

Thor-Agena

85th mission
3rd mission of 1964
65th successful mission
5th consecutive successful mission