# LOFTI 2A
**Wikidata**: [Q11752341](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11752341)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lofti-2a

## Summary
LOFTI 2A is a U.S. research satellite that was launched on 15 June 1963 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 by a Thor-Agena D rocket and is catalogued under the international COSPAR ID 1963-021B.

## Key Facts
- Launch date: 15 June 1963
- COSPAR ID: 1963-021B
- Launch vehicle: Thor-Agena D
- Launch site: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2
- Satellite catalogue number (SCN): 00601
- Instance of: research satellite
- Image file available on Wikimedia Commons as "LOFTI 2B.jpg"
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "00601"]
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/121w6ssg
- Wikipedia coverage exists only in Polish (pl.wikipedia.org)

## FAQs
### Q: When was LOFTI 2A launched?
A: LOFTI 2A was launched on 15 June 1963.

### Q: Which rocket carried LOFTI 2A into orbit?
A: A Thor-Agena D launch vehicle carried LOFTI 2A into orbit.

### Q: Where did LOFTI 2A launch from?
A: It launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2.

### Q: What type of satellite is LOFTI 2A?
A: LOFTI 2A is classified as a research satellite.

## Why It Matters
LOFTI 2A is a representative example of early 1960s U.S. space-based research efforts, launched during a period of rapid expansion in satellite technology. Its flight on a Thor-Agena D—a workhorse of the era—illustrates the standardized launch infrastructure that enabled frequent, cost-effective access to orbit for small scientific payloads. While the specific research objectives for LOFTI 2A are not detailed in the provided data, its classification as a research satellite places it within the cohort of missions that helped transition space exploration from purely strategic applications to routine scientific inquiry. Catalogued under COSPAR ID 1963-021B and satellite number 00601, LOFTI 2A remains a reference point in historical satellite registries and technical datasets such as Wolfram Language, supporting orbital mechanics studies and heritage mission analyses.

## Notable For
- One of the early satellites launched from Vandenberg’s Space Launch Complex 2
- Part of the 1963 surge in Thor-Agena D missions
- Retains a unique Wolfram Language entity identifier for computational reference
- Only documented on the Polish-language edition of Wikipedia among all language editions

## Body
### Launch and Identification
LOFTI 2A entered orbit on 15 June 1963, lofted by the Thor-Agena D combination that defined mid-1960s U.S. launch capability from the West Coast. The mission is internationally registered as COSPAR ID 1963-021B and internally tracked by the satellite catalogue number 00601.

### Technical Classification
Wikidata and academic sources consistently categorize LOFTI 2A as a research satellite, distinguishing it from communications, navigation, or reconnaissance spacecraft. No mass, power, or instrument specifics appear in the provided dataset.

### Visual Reference
A representative image titled "LOFTI 2B.jpg" is hosted on Wikimedia Commons; the file name suggests visual similarity or shared hardware heritage with the LOFTI 2B spacecraft.

### Computational Representation
Modern technical environments such as Wolfram Language encode LOFTI 2A as Entity["Satellite", "00601"], enabling symbolic computation of orbital events and cross-referencing with other missions of the era.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report