# Applications Technology Satellite 2 > former NASA communications and weather satellite **Wikidata**: [Q8183066](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8183066) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATS-2) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/applications-technology-satellite-2 ## Summary Applications Technology Satellite 2 (ATS-2) was an experimental American satellite designed by NASA for communications and weather monitoring. Launched on April 6, 1967, the spacecraft failed to reach its intended orbit due to a launch vehicle anomaly. It remained in a medium Earth orbit until it decayed and re-entered Earth's atmosphere on September 2, 1969. ## Key Facts - **Also Known As**: ATS-2, ATS-A - **Launch Date**: April 6, 1967, at 03:23:01 UTC - **Launch Site**: Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 12 - **Launch Vehicle**: Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D - **Operator**: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - **Manufacturer**: Hughes Aircraft Company - **Mission Outcome**: Launch failure; failed to reach planned orbit. - **Mass**: 324 kilograms (launch weight) - **Dimensions**: 183 centimeters in length and 142 centimeters in diameter - **Power Source**: Spacecraft solar array - **Decay Date**: September 2, 1969, at 22:20 UTC - **COSPAR ID**: 1967-031A ## FAQs ### Q: What was the primary purpose of Applications Technology Satellite 2? A: Applications Technology Satellite 2 was designed as an experimental satellite to test technologies for telecommunications and weather monitoring. It was part of NASA's broader Applications Technology Satellite series. ### Q: Why did the ATS-2 mission fail? A: The mission is classified as a launch failure that occurred on April 6, 1967. While the Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D launch vehicle successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral, the satellite did not achieve its intended orbit. ### Q: How long did ATS-2 remain in space? A: Despite the launch failure, ATS-2 remained in a medium Earth orbit for over two years. It eventually re-entered the atmosphere and was destroyed on September 2, 1969. ## Why It Matters Applications Technology Satellite 2 (ATS-2) represents a critical chapter in the early history of space exploration and satellite technology development. As part of NASA's experimental Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) series, ATS-2 was engineered to advance the capabilities of both communications and weather observation from space. These missions were essential for testing the reliability of components that would later become standard in geostationary satellites, such as solar arrays and complex communication payloads. While ATS-2 is primarily noted for its launch failure and inability to reach its planned geostationary orbit, the attempt itself provided valuable data regarding launch vehicle performance and orbital dynamics. The satellite, built by Hughes Aircraft Company, was a significant piece of engineering for its time, weighing 324 kg and carrying sophisticated instrumentation. Its existence highlights the experimental nature of the 1960s space race, where agencies like NASA rapidly iterated on designs to conquer the challenges of the space environment. The mission's timeline—from its 1967 launch to its atmospheric decay in 1969—serves as a historical data point for the longevity of objects in medium Earth orbit. ## Notable For - Being a dual-purpose experimental satellite designed for both **communications** and **weather monitoring**. - Being part of the **Applications Technology Satellite (ATS)** series, a pioneering NASA program. - Experiencing a **launch failure** that prevented it from reaching its planned orbit. - Re-entering Earth's atmosphere on **September 2, 1969**, after spending over two years in medium Earth orbit. - Being manufactured by **Hughes Aircraft Company**, a major aerospace defense contractor of the era. ## Body ### Development and Specifications Applications Technology Satellite 2 (also designated ATS-A) was constructed by Hughes Aircraft Company for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As an experimental platform, it belonged to a class of spacecraft designed to test new space-based technologies. **Physical Characteristics:** * **Mass:** 324 kilograms at launch. * **Length:** 183 centimeters. * **Diameter:** 142 centimeters. * **Power:** The satellite utilized a spacecraft solar array for power generation. ### Mission History ATS-2 launched on April 6, 1967, utilizing an Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D expendable launch system. The launch took place at Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 12. The specific launch time was recorded at 03:23:01 UTC. **Launch and Operational Challenges:** The mission encountered a significant setback when a launch failure occurred. While the rocket successfully lifted off, the vehicle failed to place ATS-2 into its intended geostationary transfer orbit. Instead, the satellite was inserted into a medium Earth orbit. **End of Mission:** Due to the lower altitude of its unintended medium Earth orbit, ATS-2 was subject to atmospheric drag which caused its orbit to decay. The satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere on September 2, 1969, at approximately 22:20 UTC. ### Program Context ATS-2 was the second satellite in the Applications Technology Satellite series. It followed **Applications Technology Satellite 1** and was succeeded by **Applications Technology Satellite 3**. Despite its abbreviated mission profile due to the launch failure, it is recorded as a former entity in NASA's history of space communications and weather observation efforts. ## References 1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/ats-4.htm) 2. Jonathan's Space Report 3. [Source](http://boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/376/ats/ats.html) 4. [Source](https://science.nasa.gov/missions/ats)