# ABS-1A
**Wikidata**: [Q14289782](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14289782)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/abs-1a

## Summary
ABS-1A, also identified by the aliases Koreasat 2 and Mugunghwa 2, is a communications satellite launched on January 14, 1996. It was deployed from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 using a Delta II rocket.

## Key Facts
- **Class:** Communications satellite.
- **Launch Date:** January 14, 1996.
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Delta II.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1996-003A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 23768.
- **Alternate Names:** Koreasat 2, Mugunghwa 2.
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/122l8bs9.

## FAQs
### Q: When was ABS-1A launched?
A: ABS-1A was launched on January 14, 1996.

### Q: What was the launch vehicle for ABS-1A?
A: The satellite was launched using a Delta II rocket, a retired expendable launch system.

### Q: What are the other names for ABS-1A?
A: The entity is also known by the aliases Koreasat 2 and Mugunghwa 2.

### Q: Where did the launch of ABS-1A take place?
A: The launch took place at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

## Why It Matters
ABS-1A represents a specific mission in the history of space-based telecommunications. Launched in the mid-1990s, it serves as a case study for the deployment of communications satellites during that era. The mission highlights the utilization of the Delta II rocket family, a workhorse launch system that was still active at the time (though now retired), demonstrating the reliability of that platform for placing payloads into orbit.

Furthermore, the entity is tracked under specific international identifiers (COSPAR ID 1996-003A and SCN 23768), emphasizing its role as a registered object in the global space catalog. Its association with multiple names—ABS-1A, Koreasat 2, and Mugunghwa 2—reflects the common industry practice of satellites being renamed or designated differently based on their operator, coverage region, or organizational changes over time. The launch from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 places it within the historical context of one of the world's most prominent spaceport facilities.

## Notable For
- **Dual Identity:** Being identified interchangeably as ABS-1A and Koreasat 2/Mugunghwa 2.
- **Specific Tracking Data:** Possessing a distinct Satellite Catalog Number (23768) and COSPAR ID (1996-003A).
- **Launch Configuration:** Utilizing the Delta II launch system from the specific Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 site.
- **Classification:** Serving as a defined instance of a communications satellite in global space databases.

## Body
### Mission Overview
ABS-1A is classified as an artificial satellite designed for telecommunications. The mission was executed as a "rocket launch" event, resulting in the successful placement of the satellite into its intended trajectory.

### Launch Specifications
The launch occurred on **January 14, 1996**. The departure point was **Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17**. The delivery system used was the **Delta II**, an expendable launch vehicle which has since been retired from service.

### Identification and Tracking
The satellite is cataloged in international records for space objects.
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1996-003A. This international designation indicates it was the first object (component "A") associated with the third launch of the year 1996.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** 23768. This is the unique identifier assigned by the US Space Command.
*   **Aliases:** The satellite is referenced in multiple languages and databases, notably appearing in Korean (`ko`) and Portuguese (`pt`) Wikipedia entries, and is recognized by the aliases **Koreasat 2** and **Mugunghwa 2**.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report