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.

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.

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

Instruments

See also

References

  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.
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