# Biosatellite 2

> satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q26096](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26096)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosatellite_2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/biosatellite-2

## Summary
Biosatellite 2 was a U.S. biosatellite launched on 7 September 1967 that carried biological experiments into low Earth orbit and returned them to Earth two days later via mid-air retrieval over Hawaii. Operated by NASA, it was the second mission in the Biosatellite program designed to study the effects of spaceflight on living organisms.

## Key Facts
- Launch date: 7 September 1967 at 22:04:26 UTC from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17B
- Landing date: 9 September 1967 in Hawaii via mid-air retrieval
- Launch vehicle: Delta G (serial number 475/D051)
- COSPAR ID: 1967-083A
- NSSDCA ID: 1967-083B
- Also known as: Biosat 2, Biosatellite B
- Part of: NASA's Biosatellite program
- Satellite catalog number: 02935
- Orbit: Low Earth orbit
- Country of origin: United States
- Operator: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

## FAQs
### Q: When did Biosatellite 2 launch and land?
A: Biosatellite 2 launched on 7 September 1967 at 22:04:26 UTC and landed on 9 September 1967 after spending approximately two days in orbit.

### Q: Where was Biosatellite 2 launched from and where did it land?
A: It launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17B in Florida and was recovered via mid-air retrieval over Hawaii.

### Q: What type of satellite was Biosatellite 2?
A: Biosatellite 2 was a biosatellite, specifically designed to carry and study living organisms in space before returning them to Earth.

### Q: What launch vehicle was used for Biosatellite 2?
A: The mission used a Delta G expendable launch vehicle with the serial number 475/D051.

## Why It Matters
Biosatellite 2 represented a critical milestone in space biology research during the 1960s space race era. As part of NASA's Biosatellite program, it demonstrated the feasibility of conducting controlled biological experiments in space and returning live specimens to Earth for detailed analysis. The mission's successful mid-air retrieval over Hawaii validated recovery techniques that would be essential for future biological space missions. By providing a controlled environment for living organisms in space, Biosatellite 2 helped establish protocols for studying how spaceflight conditions affect biological systems, laying groundwork for understanding the challenges of human space exploration and the potential for life sciences research in microgravity environments.

## Notable For
- Successfully completed the first mid-air retrieval of a biosatellite payload, demonstrating viable recovery methods for biological experiments
- Part of only a handful of dedicated biosatellite missions flown during the 1960s
- One of the earliest successful biological sample return missions from orbit
- Demonstrated the Delta G launch vehicle's capability for precision biological mission deployment
- Achieved rapid turnaround from launch to recovery in just two days

## Body

### Mission Overview
Biosatellite 2 was the second mission in NASA's Biosatellite program, a series of dedicated biological research satellites designed to study the effects of spaceflight on living organisms. The mission followed the general pattern established by the program: launch biological specimens into orbit, maintain them in a controlled environment, and return them to Earth for comprehensive analysis.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft was launched aboard a Delta G expendable launch vehicle, a member of the Delta rocket family specifically configured for this mission. The launch took place from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17B, a historic launch complex that supported numerous Delta missions during the 1960s. The mission designation 475/D051 identified the specific launch vehicle configuration used for this flight.

### Recovery Operations
The mission concluded with a precision recovery operation over Hawaii on 9 September 1967. The mid-air retrieval technique employed for Biosatellite 2 represented a sophisticated recovery method that allowed for rapid access to the returned biological specimens, minimizing the time between re-entry and laboratory analysis. This recovery approach became a standard technique for subsequent biological return missions.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report