VesselSat-2 explained

VesselSat-2
Mission Type:Ship tracking
Operator:LuxSpace (lessor)
Orbcomm (operator)
Cospar Id:2012-001B
Satcat:38047
Mission Duration:Planned: 3 years
Achieved: 4 years
Manufacturer:LuxSpace
Launch Date: UTC
Launch Rocket:Chang Zheng 4B Y26
Launch Site:Taiyuan LC-9
Orbit Epoch:31 October 2013, 18:34:19 UTC[1]
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Low Earth
Orbit Periapsis:472km (293miles)
Orbit Apoapsis:484km (301miles)
Orbit Inclination:97.43 degrees
Orbit Period:94.02 minutes
Apsis:gee

VesselSat-2 (aka Orbcomm FM43, V2) was a Luxembourgian microsatellite built and owned by LuxSpace, and operated by Orbcomm under lease. It carried a receiver for Automatic Identification System signals, used to track ships at sea. VesselSat-2 was the second of two VesselSat spacecraft (see VesselSat-1), 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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: VESSELSAT 2 Satellite details 2012-001B NORAD 38047. N2YO. 31 October 2013. 31 October 2013.
  2. Web site: VesselSat 1, 2, 3. Gunter. Krebs. Gunter's Space Page. 15 October 2019.
  3. Web site: http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2012/01-09/3590223.shtml. zh:中国成功发射首颗高精度立体测绘卫星"资源三号". ChinaNews.com. 9 January 2012. 9 January 2012. zh.
  4. Web site: China opens 2012 with ZiYuan-3 launch via Long March 4B. Rui C.. Barbosa. NASASpaceflight.com. 8 January 2012. 9 January 2012.