Padside
Menu

United States Air ForceThorad SLV-2G Agena DSpace Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Strawman 2

Launched

July 31, 1969

Launch Successful

Image: NASA

Summary

Strawman 2 launched on an United States Air Force Thorad SLV-2G Agena D from Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on July 31, 1969. It was United States Air Force's 500th launch, 26th this year and humanity's 996th orbital launch attempt. It was the 23rd Thorad SLV-2G Agena D flight and the 5th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). It reached a 468 × 547 km orbit inclined 75.0°. One object from this launch is catalogued.

Watch
No webcast on record.
Vehicle
Thorad SLV-2G Agena D · United States Air Force
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Milestone
23rd Thorad SLV-2G Agena D flight · 5th this yearUnited States Air Force's 500th launch26th this yearhumanity's 996th orbital launch attempt77th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

75.0°Inclination
468 × 547 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
94.6 minPeriodfrom mean elements
172.5°Ascending node
20895 d agoElement epoch1969-08-01 10:58 UTC · stale

OPS 8285 · NORAD 4054 · 1969-065 · Space-Track

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID
1969-065A
Epoch
1969-08-01 10:58:35 UTC
Mean motion
15.21773901 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.0057539
Inclination
75.0198°
Ascending node
172.5441°
Arg. of perigee
237.5057°
Mean anomaly
122.0462°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
16
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO.

Catalogued objects

1 catalogued: 1 payload; none still in orbit

  • OPS 8285 · NORAD 4054 · re-entered January 4, 1973

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

The Strawman series of ELINT/SIGINT satellites, known for decades only as "Heavy Ferrets", are the fourth variation of Agena-based ELINT satellites. These satellites were designed to detect, map and investigate SAM and ABM radars.

Pad

Map of Space Launch Complex 1W

Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

51st launch from Space Launch Complex 1W, 1st this year · 332nd from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

56 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

298 days after the previous launch from this pad

Questions

When did Strawman 2 launch?

Strawman 2 launched on July 31, 1969. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch Strawman 2?

No webcast is on record for this launch.

What rocket launched Strawman 2?

Thorad SLV-2G Agena D, flown by United States Air Force. Thorad SLV-2G Agena D spec sheet

Where did Strawman 2 launch from?

Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.

What orbit did Strawman 2 reach?

It reached a 468 × 547 km orbit inclined 75.0°.

How many satellites did Strawman 2 launch?

1 payload from this launch is catalogued, no longer in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).