VesselSat-2

VesselSat-2
Mission type Ship tracking
Operator LuxSpace (lessor)
Orbcomm (operator)
COSPAR ID 2012-001B
SATCAT № 38047
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer LuxSpace
Launch mass 28 kilograms (62 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 9 January 2012, 03:17 UTC
Rocket Chang Zheng 4B Y26
Launch site Taiyuan LC-9
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee 472 kilometres (293 mi)
Apogee 484 kilometres (301 mi)
Inclination 97.43 degrees
Period 94.02 minutes
Epoch 31 October 2013, 18:34:19 UTC[1]

VesselSat-2 is a Luxembourgian microsatellite built and owned by LuxSpace, and operated by Orbcomm under lease. It carries a receiver for Automatic Identification System signals, used to track ships at sea. VesselSat-2 is the second of two VesselSat spacecraft, which were built by LuxSpace for Orbcomm, as replacements for the AIS capabilities of the failed Orbcomm-QL spacecraft.[2]

VesselSat-2 was launched as a secondary payload on a Long March 4B carrier rocket which was carrying Ziyuan 3. The launch occurred at 03:17 UTC on 9 January 2012,[3] from Launch Complex 9 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, and was the first orbital launch of the year.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "VESSELSAT 2 Satellite details 2012-001B NORAD 38047". N2YO. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "VesselSat 1, 2, 3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  3. ↑ 中国成功发射首颗高精度立体测绘卫星"资源三号" (in Chinese). ChinaNews.com. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  4. ↑ Barbosa, Rui C. (8 January 2012). "China opens 2012 with ZiYuan-3 launch via Long March 4B". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 9 January 2012.

External links