# Alouette 2

> defunct Canadian research satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q2650602](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2650602)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alouette_2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alouette-2

## Summary
Alouette 2 was a defunct Canadian research satellite designed to monitor Earth's magnetosphere, launched on November 29, 1965. It succeeded Alouette 1 and was operated by the Communications Research Centre Canada with funding from both Canadian and American sources.

## Key Facts
- Alouette 2 was launched on November 29, 1965, from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 East at 04:48:47.
- It had a mass of 146.5 kg and was powered by spacecraft solar arrays.
- The satellite was operated by the Communications Research Centre Canada, specifically the Defence and Research Telecommunications Establishment.
- Alouette 2 was funded by both the Communications Research Centre Canada and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- It was launched using a Thor-Agena B launch vehicle.
- The satellite is classified as a geomagnetic satellite and was in service until its retirement in July 1975.
- Its COSPAR ID and NSSDCA ID are both 1965-098A.
- Alouette 2 was manufactured by RCA Victor.
- It has several aliases including S27-4, S27-B, Alouette-B, and ISIS-X.
- The satellite had SCN identifier 01804.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Alouette 2?
A: Alouette 2 was designed as a geomagnetic satellite to monitor Earth's magnetosphere and related regions, continuing the research initiated by Alouette 1.

### Q: When was Alouette 2 launched and by whom?
A: Alouette 2 was launched on November 29, 1965, from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 East using a Thor-Agena B launch vehicle. It was manufactured by RCA Victor.

### Q: How long was Alouette 2 in service?
A: Alouette 2 was in service from its launch on November 29, 1965, until its retirement in July 1975, operating for approximately 10 years.

### Q: What was the relationship between Alouette 1 and Alouette 2?
A: Alouette 2 succeeded Alouette 1, continuing the research program of Canadian satellites designed to study Earth's magnetosphere.

### Q: How was Alouette 2 funded?
A: Alouette 2 was funded by both the Communications Research Centre Canada and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), indicating international cooperation in the project.

## Why It Matters
Alouette 2 represents a significant achievement in Canadian space research during the early years of space exploration. As a geomagnetic satellite, it contributed to our understanding of Earth's magnetosphere, which is crucial for space weather prediction and satellite operations in Earth's orbit. The satellite's decade-long service provided valuable data that enhanced scientific knowledge of space physics and ionospheric phenomena. Additionally, its international funding model, combining Canadian and American resources, demonstrates the collaborative nature of early space research programs. The success of Alouette 2 built upon its predecessor (Alouette 1) and helped establish Canada as a notable participant in the global space research community during a period when space exploration was primarily dominated by superpower nations.

## Notable For
- Being a Canadian geomagnetic satellite that operated successfully for nearly a decade, from 1965 to 1975.
- Being funded by both Canadian (Communications Research Centre Canada) and American (NASA) sources, showcasing early international space cooperation.
- Continuing the research program initiated by Alouette 1, making it part of Canada's pioneering satellite efforts.
- Having a specific designation as "ISIS-X" among its aliases, indicating its role in the International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) program.
- Its restoration period in November 1975, which allowed for continued data collection after its initial service retirement.

## Body
### Basic Information
Alouette 2 was a defunct Canadian research satellite classified as a geomagnetic satellite. It was launched on November 29, 1965, at 04:48:47 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 East using a Thor-Agena B launch vehicle. The satellite had a mass of 146.5 kg and was powered by spacecraft solar arrays. It was in service until its retirement in July 1975.

### Ownership and Operation
Alouette 2 was owned and operated by the Communications Research Centre Canada, specifically the Defence and Research Telecommunications Establishment. The satellite was funded by both the Communications Research Centre Canada and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), reflecting international cooperation in the project.

### Technical Specifications
- Manufacturer: RCA Victor
- Mass: 146.5 kg
- Power source: Spacecraft solar array
- COSPAR ID: 1965-098A
- NSSDCA ID: 1965-098A
- SCN: 01804
- Freebase ID: /m/033nh6
- Wolfram Language Entity Code: Entity["Satellite", "01804"]

### Identifiers and Aliases
The satellite has several identifiers used across different systems:
- COSPAR ID: 1965-098A
- NSSDCA ID: 1965-098A
- SCN: 01804
- Freebase ID: /m/033nh6

It also has several aliases:
- S27-4
- S27-B
- Alouette-B
- ISIS-X

### Program Context
Alouette 2 followed Alouette 1 as part of Canada's early satellite research program. Both satellites were designed to study Earth's magnetosphere and related regions. Alouette 2 had a significant operational history that included a restoration period from November 28-29, 1975, allowing for continued data collection after its initial service retirement in July 1975.

### Media Presence
Alouette 2 has Wikipedia translations in several languages including Danish, German, English, Spanish, French, Galician, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, and Latvian. Its English Wikipedia article has 12 sitelinks, indicating its documentation across multiple Wikimedia projects.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Alouette 2",
  "description": "Defunct Canadian research satellite designed to monitor Earth's magnetosphere",
  "url": "https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-098A",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alouette_2"
  ],
  "additionalType": "geomagnetic satellite",
  "identifier": "1965-098A",
  "creator": "Communications Research Centre Canada",
  "dateCreated": "1965-11-29",
  "dateModified": "1975-07-00",
  "keywords": ["Canadian research satellite", "geomagnetic satellite", "satellite", "spacecraft"]
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/alouette.htm)
2. [Source](https://www.friendsofcrc.ca/Projects/ISIS/isis.html)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-098A)