# SPOT-2

> Earth observation satellite (1990-2009)

**Wikidata**: [Q106366737](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106366737)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/spot-2

## Summary
SPOT-2 is a French Earth observation satellite launched on 1990-01-22 as the second spacecraft in the SPOT series. It operated in Sun-synchronous orbit, was built by Matra, operated by Airbus DS Geo, and was retired on 2009-07-29 after about 19.5 years of service.

## Key Facts
- SPOT-2 is an Earth observation satellite and the second spacecraft in the SPOT satellite series.  
- Launch date and time: 1990-01-22 at 01:35:27 (UTC).  
- Launch vehicle: Ariane 40 (Ariane 4 series), flight qualifier V35.  
- Launch site / start point: ELA-2.  
- Orbit type: Sun-synchronous orbit.  
- Operator: Airbus DS Geo.  
- Manufacturer: Matra.  
- Spacecraft bus: SPOT.  
- Design service life: 3 years; actual service life reported as 19.5 years.  
- Service retirement date: 2009-07-29.  
- COSPAR ID / NSSDC ID: 1990-005A.  
- Satellite catalog number (SCN): 20436.  
- Common aliases: SPOT 2, SPOT-B, SPOT B.  
- Power: spacecraft solar array (1).  
- Space tug / upper stage associated: H10 (qualifier L408).  
- Commons media category: "SPOT-2 (satellite)".

## FAQs
### Q: What was SPOT-2?
A: SPOT-2 was the second satellite in the French SPOT series of Earth observation satellites, designed and built on the SPOT spacecraft bus for imaging Earth from Sun-synchronous orbit.

### Q: When was SPOT-2 launched and when was it retired?
A: SPOT-2 launched on 1990-01-22 at 01:35:27 (UTC) and was retired from service on 2009-07-29.

### Q: Who built and operated SPOT-2?
A: The satellite was manufactured by Matra and operated by Airbus DS Geo.

### Q: What was SPOT-2's planned versus actual lifetime?
A: SPOT-2 had a design life of 3 years but remained in service for about 19.5 years before retirement.

## Why It Matters
SPOT-2 is significant as an early and long-lived member of the SPOT family of Earth observation satellites. Launched in 1990, it was built on the SPOT spacecraft bus and served far beyond its three-year design life, providing nearly two decades of on-orbit operations until 2009. Its extended service demonstrates the durability of the SPOT platform and contributed continuity to the SPOT program, which is a sustained French effort to provide systematic Earth imaging from Sun-synchronous orbit. The satellite's operation by Airbus DS Geo underlines the commercial and institutional management of medium-resolution remote sensing assets. SPOT-2’s long operational span helped maintain the SPOT constellation's capability for many years and forms part of the program context that links SPOT-1 (preceding) and SPOT-3 (following).

## Notable For
- Exceeding its design life of 3 years by operating approximately 19.5 years (1990–2009).  
- Being the second spacecraft in the SPOT Earth observation series.  
- Launch on an Ariane 40 (Ariane 4 family) from ELA-2 on 1990-01-22.  
- Operating in Sun-synchronous orbit as part of a long-running remote-sensing program.  
- Catalog and identification: COSPAR 1990-005A and SCN 20436.

## Body

### Overview
- Name: SPOT-2 (also styled SPOT 2, SPOT-B, SPOT B).  
- Instance of: Earth observation satellite.  
- Part of: SPOT series of Earth observation satellites (French program).  
- Country of origin: France.  
- Spacecraft bus: SPOT.

### Launch and mission timeline
- Launch date and UTC time: 1990-01-22 at 01:35:27.  
- Launch site / start point: ELA-2.  
- Launch vehicle: Ariane 40 (Ariane 4 series), flight qualifier V35.  
- Significant launch event location: ELA-2 on 1990-01-22.  
- Service retirement / decommission date: 2009-07-29.

### Orbit and operations
- Orbit type: Sun-synchronous orbit.  
- Primary purpose: Earth observation (remote sensing).  
- Operator during operational life: Airbus DS Geo.

### Manufacturing and spacecraft details
- Manufacturer: Matra.  
- Spacecraft bus: SPOT.  
- Power: spacecraft solar array (quantity: 1).  
- Associated upper stage / space tug: H10 (qualifier L408).  
- Design life (criterion used): 3 years.  
- Reported service life: ~19.5 years.

### Identifiers and cataloging
- COSPAR ID: 1990-005A.  
- NSSDC ID: 1990-005A.  
- Satellite catalog number (SCN): 20436.  
- Commons media category: "SPOT-2 (satellite)".  
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "20436"].

### Program context and relationships
- Preceded by: SPOT 1 (SPOT-1).  
- Followed by: SPOT-3 (SPOT-3).  
- Part of the SPOT family of Earth observation satellites, a sustained French program for orbital remote sensing.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "SPOT-2",
  "description": "SPOT-2 is a French Earth observation satellite launched on 1990-01-22 and retired on 2009-07-29.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Earth observation satellite"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/spot-1.htm)
3. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/astrium_spot.htm)
4. [Source](https://conference.sdo.esoc.esa.int/proceedings/sdc6/paper/119/SDC6-paper119.pdf)