Key statistics
Satellite VANGUARD 2 at a glance.
Uptime
24136
Days in orbit
Revolutions
≈ 11.9
Per day
Orbit
MEO
Medium Earth Orbit
Inclination
32.9
Latest
Satellite identification and parameters
Extended collection of information and parameters for VANGUARD 2.
Object identification
Identified? True
Debris? False
Object name: VANGUARD 2
International designator: 1959-001A
Object number (NORAD): 11
Object ID (CCSDS): 11
Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)
Current information (Y/N): Y
RCS size: MEDIUM
Orbital parameters
Period: 121.075 minutes
Inclination: 32.8744 deg
SMA: 8107.054 km
Apoapsis: 2904.042 km
Periapsis: 553.796 km
RAAN: 17.4266 deg
Eccentricy: 0.1449507
Argument of periapsis: 332.1053 deg
Mean anomaly: 20.8642 deg
Mean motion: 11.89345829 rev/day
Mean motion (dot): 0.00004002 rev/day2
B* drag term: 0.0021214 1/REarth
Two-line elements (TLE)
Creation date: March 16, 2025, 6:34 p.m.
Reference frame: TEME
Reference center: EARTH
Epoch: March 16, 2025, 4:44 a.m. UTC
TLE line 0: 0 VANGUARD 2
TLE line 1: 1 00011U 59001A 25075.19771900 .00004002 00000-0 21214-2 0 9998
TLE line 2: 2 00011 32.8744 17.4266 1449507 332.1053 20.8642 11.89345829480896
Live tracking on map
Real-time ground track for satellite VANGUARD 2.
Associated space launch
Vanguard II is an Earth orbiting satellite and the first weather satellite. It was designed to measure cloud-cover distribution over the daylight portion of its orbit for a period of 19 days and to provide information on the density of the atmosphere.
VANGUARD 2 was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Vanguard | Vanguard II’, on board a Vanguard space rocket.
The launch took place on Feb. 17, 1959, 3:55 p.m. from Launch Complex 18A.
For more information about the launch, click the button.
Vanguard | Vanguard II
Agency: N/A
Status: Launch Successful
Launch date: Feb. 17, 1959, 3:55 p.m. UTC
Rocket: Vanguard
Launch pad: Launch Complex 18A
Location: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
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