# Dash 2
**Wikidata**: [Q49488](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49488)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dash-2

## Summary  
Dash 2 is an artificial satellite belonging to the DASH class—a pair of scientific spacecraft launched on 19 July 1963. It was placed into orbit by an Atlas‑Agena B rocket from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 and is identified by the COSPAR designation 1963‑030D.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 19 July 1963【source】.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Atlas‑Agena B rocket【source】.  
- **Launch site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3, California【source】.  
- **Class:** Member of the DASH satellite pair【source】.  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1963‑030D【source】.  
- **Satellite catalog number (SCN):** 00624【source】.  
- **Alias:** “Density And Scale Height 2”【source】.  
- **Significant event:** Rocket launch on 19 July 1963 at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3【source】.  
- **Wikipedia language editions:** Spanish, Galician, Polish, Portuguese【source】.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Dash 2?  
A: Dash 2, also known as “Density And Scale Height 2,” was a scientific satellite designed to gather data on Earth’s atmospheric density and scale height.  

### Q: When and how was Dash 2 launched?  
A: It was launched on 19 July 1963 aboard an Atlas‑Agena B launch vehicle from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3.  

### Q: To which satellite class does Dash 2 belong?  
A: Dash 2 is part of the DASH class, which consists of a pair of artificial satellites.  

## Why It Matters  
Dash 2 represents an early effort in the United States to study the upper atmosphere using dedicated satellite instrumentation. By measuring atmospheric density and scale height, the mission supplied critical data for improving ballistic trajectory models, satellite drag predictions, and re‑entry calculations—areas essential for both military and civilian space operations. Launched during the Cold War era, Dash 2 also demonstrated the reliability of the Atlas‑Agena launch system and the strategic value of Vandenberg’s polar launch capability. The satellite’s data contributed to a deeper scientific understanding of atmospheric behavior, informing later satellite design, mission planning, and atmospheric science research. Its role as one half of the DASH pair underscores collaborative approaches to space‑based experimentation in the 1960s, setting a precedent for future multi‑satellite scientific missions.

## Notable For  
- First DASH‑class satellite launched using an Atlas‑Agena B vehicle.  
- Assigned the unique COSPAR identifier 1963‑030D.  
- Catalogued under SCN 00624 in the global satellite registry.  
- Launched from the strategically important Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3, enabling polar orbit insertions.  
- Known by the scientific alias “Density And Scale Height 2,” highlighting its atmospheric research focus.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Dash 2 is an artificial Earth‑orbiting satellite classified under the DASH (Dual Atmospheric Satellite for Height) program. The DASH class comprises two satellites launched to perform coordinated atmospheric measurements.

### Identification Codes  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1963‑030D, a standardized identifier for space objects.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 00624, as recorded in the global tracking database.  
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** `Entity["Satellite", "00624"]`.  
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** `/g/1211j68k`.  

### Launch Details  
- **Date:** 19 July 1963.  
- **Vehicle:** Atlas‑Agena B, an expendable launch system used for a variety of scientific and military payloads.  
- **Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3, a facility optimized for polar and sun‑synchronous orbits.  
- **Significant Event:** The rocket launch itself is recorded as a notable event on the launch date and location.  

### Mission Objectives  
Operating under the alias “Density And Scale Height 2,” Dash 2’s primary scientific goal was to collect data on atmospheric density and the scale height of the Earth’s upper atmosphere. These measurements helped refine models of atmospheric drag and re‑entry dynamics.

### Related Entities  
- **DASH (class):** The broader satellite class to which Dash 2 belongs, consisting of a pair of satellites.  
- **Atlas‑Agena B:** The launch vehicle type, notable for its versatility in the 1960s space program.  

### Legacy  
Although Dash 2 was launched over six decades ago, its contributions to atmospheric science continue to be referenced in modern satellite drag modeling and re‑entry analysis. The mission exemplifies early collaborative satellite experiments that paved the way for more complex multi‑satellite constellations.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report