# SAMOS 2

> American reconnaissance satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q7410032](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7410032)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samos_2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/samos-2

## Summary
SAMOS 2 was an American reconnaissance satellite launched on January 31, 1961. Part of the SAMOS series, its mission was to covertly collect data for intelligence or military applications. The satellite operated for over a decade before re-entering the Earth's atmosphere on October 21, 1973.

## Key Facts
- SAMOS 2 was an American reconnaissance satellite.
- It was launched on January 31, 1961, at 20:21:19 UTC.
- The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 West.
- Its launch vehicle was an Atlas-Agena A, specifically vehicle 70D/2102.
- SAMOS 2 was part of the SAMOS American reconnaissance satellite series.
- It was preceded by SAMOS 1 and followed by SAMOS 3.
- The satellite re-entered the atmosphere on October 21, 1973.
- Its COSPAR ID is 1961-001A.

## FAQs
### Q: What was SAMOS 2?
A: SAMOS 2 was an American reconnaissance satellite. Its primary purpose was to covertly collect data for intelligence or military applications as part of the SAMOS satellite series.

### Q: When was SAMOS 2 launched?
A: SAMOS 2 was launched on January 31, 1961, at 20:21:19 UTC. The launch originated from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 West.

### Q: What launch vehicle was used for SAMOS 2?
A: SAMOS 2 was launched using an Atlas-Agena A expendable launch system. The specific vehicle used was designated 70D/2102.

### Q: What happened to SAMOS 2?
A: SAMOS 2 successfully operated for many years after its launch. It eventually re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on October 21, 1973, marking the end of its operational life.

## Why It Matters
SAMOS 2 holds significance as an early American reconnaissance satellite, contributing to the foundational development of space-based intelligence gathering. As a component of the SAMOS series, it played a role in advancing satellite technology for military and intelligence applications during a critical period of the Cold War. Its successful launch and extended operational lifespan, from 1961 to 1973, demonstrated the United States' growing capabilities in space surveillance and the practical application of satellites for national security. The SAMOS program, including SAMOS 2, helped establish the precedent and methodologies for subsequent generations of reconnaissance satellites, which became indispensable assets for geopolitical monitoring. By providing covertly collected data, such satellites offered crucial information that was otherwise unobtainable, influencing strategic decisions and international relations. SAMOS 2's existence and function underscored the increasing importance of space as a domain for intelligence operations and laid groundwork for future space endeavors.

## Notable For
- Being an early American reconnaissance satellite designed for intelligence and military data collection.
- Its successful launch and operation as part of the pioneering SAMOS satellite series.
- Being launched by an Atlas-Agena A, an early model of expendable launch system.

## Body
### Overview
SAMOS 2 was an American reconnaissance satellite. It is classified as a satellite that covertly collects data for intelligence or military applications. The satellite was part of the SAMOS series, an American reconnaissance satellite series.

### Launch Details
*   **Launch Date:** January 31, 1961, at 20:21:19 UTC.
*   **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 West.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Atlas-Agena A (specifically vehicle 70D/2102). The Atlas-Agena A is a model of expendable launch system.
*   **Country of Origin:** United States.

### Operational History
SAMOS 2 followed SAMOS 1 in the series. It was subsequently followed by SAMOS 3. The satellite's operational period concluded with its atmospheric entry on October 21, 1973. This event is also referred to as the time of object orbit decay.

### Identifiers
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1961-001A
*   **NSSDC ID:** 1961-001A
*   **SCN:** 00070
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/0cc8z8q
*   **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "00070"]

### Wikipedia Presence
SAMOS 2 has Wikipedia titles available in English (en), Finnish (fi), Polish (pl), and Portuguese (pt).

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "SAMOS 2",
  "description": "American reconnaissance satellite launched on January 31, 1961.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samos_2"
  ],
  "additionalType": "https://schema.org/Satellite"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report