| Intelsat II F-2 | |
| Mission Type: | Communications |
| Operator: | Intelsat |
| Cospar Id: | 1967-001A |
| Satcat: | 2639 |
| Mission Duration: | 3 years |
| Spacecraft Bus: | HS-303A |
| Spacecraft Type: | Intelsat II |
| Manufacturer: | Hughes |
| Power: | 85 watts |
| Launch Date: | UTC[1] |
| Launch Rocket: | Delta E1 |
| Launch Site: | Cape Canaveral LC-17B |
| Deactivated: | c. |
| Orbit Epoch: | February 4, 2014, 11:35:30 UTC[2] |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
| Orbit Regime: | Geosynchronous |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 35748km (22,213miles) |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 35845km (22,273miles) |
| Orbit Inclination: | 6.80 degrees |
| Orbit Period: | 23.93 hours |
| Orbit Longitude: | 174° east |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Programme: | Intelsat II |
| Previous Mission: | Intelsat II F-1 |
| Next Mission: | Intelsat II F-3 |
Intelsat II F-2, also known as Lani Bird, was a communications satellite operated by Intelsat. Launched in 1967, it was operated in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 174 degrees east until 1969.
The second of four Intelsat II satellites to be launched, Intelsat II F-2 was built by Hughes Aircraft around the HS-303A satellite bus. It carried two transponders, which were powered by body-mounted solar cells generating 85 watts of power.[3] The spacecraft had a mass of 162kg (357lb) at launch, decreasing to 86kg (190lb) by the beginning of its operational life.
Intelsat II F-2 was launched atop a Delta E1 rocket flying from Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch took place at 10:55:00 on January 11, 1967, with the spacecraft entering a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It fired an SVM-1 apogee motor to place itself into its operational geostationary orbit, arriving on-station at 174° East on February 4, 1967.[4] The satellite achieved around two years of operation at that slot before failing in 1969.[5]
As of February 4, 2014, Intelsat II F-2 was in an orbit with a perigee of 35748km (22,213miles), an apogee of 35845km (22,273miles), inclination of 6.80 degrees and an orbital period of 23.93 hours.[2]