# Vanguard 2

> Earth-orbiting weather satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q1076866](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1076866)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanguard_2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vanguard-2

## Summary
Vanguard 2 was the first weather satellite launched by the United States, designed to monitor Earth's weather and climate patterns. It was developed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory and launched on February 17, 1959.

## Key Facts
- Vanguard 2 was launched on February 17, 1959 at 15:55:02 from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 18
- It has a mass of 10.2 kilograms
- Vanguard 2 orbits Earth with a semi-major axis of 8,317.7 kilometers
- Its orbital period is 125.6 minutes with an orbital inclination of 32.88 degrees
- The satellite was manufactured by the United States Naval Research Laboratory
- Vanguard 2 was launched using a Vanguard rocket
- It has a COSPAR ID of 1959-001A
- Vanguard 2 is classified as both an Earth-orbiting artificial satellite and a weather satellite

## FAQs
### Q: What was Vanguard 2 used for?
A: Vanguard 2 was designed as a weather satellite to monitor Earth's weather and climate patterns, providing valuable meteorological data from space.

### Q: Who built Vanguard 2?
A: Vanguard 2 was built by the United States Naval Research Laboratory, which is the corporate research laboratory for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps.

### Q: When was Vanguard 2 launched?
A: Vanguard 2 was launched on February 17, 1959 at 15:55:02 from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 18.

### Q: How much does Vanguard 2 weigh?
A: Vanguard 2 has a mass of 10.2 kilograms.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Vanguard 2?
A: Vanguard 2 was launched using a Vanguard rocket, an American small-lift launch vehicle.

## Why It Matters
Vanguard 2 represented a significant milestone in space exploration as one of the first weather satellites ever launched, pioneering the field of remote sensing for meteorological purposes. It demonstrated the practical application of satellite technology for Earth observation, laying the groundwork for modern weather forecasting and climate monitoring systems. As an early achievement in the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, Vanguard 2 contributed to expanding humanity's understanding of Earth's atmospheric systems from space, which has since evolved into comprehensive global weather monitoring networks that save lives and protect property through accurate weather prediction.

## Notable For
- Being one of the first weather satellites launched by the United States, pioneering remote sensing for meteorological purposes
- Having a unique serial number (SCN 00011) in the satellite cataloging system
- Operating in a highly elliptical orbit with an eccentricity of 0.166, which was unusual for early satellites
- Being the first satellite launched by the US Naval Research Laboratory with meteorological objectives
- Its scientific mission focused on collecting cloud cover data, making it an early example of dedicated Earth observation satellites

## Body
### Overview
Vanguard 2 was an Earth-orbiting weather satellite launched by the United States on February 17, 1959. It was the first US weather satellite and was designed to collect meteorological data from space.

### Development and Launch
Vanguard 2 was developed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory, which was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The satellite was launched using a Vanguard rocket from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 18 at 15:55:02 UTC on February 17, 1959. The launch was part of the Vanguard program, which was an American small-lift launch vehicle initiative.

### Technical Specifications
- Mass: 10.2 kilograms
- Dimensions: Not specified in the source material
- Orbital Parameters:
  - Semi-major axis: 8,317.7 kilometers
  - Apoapsis: 3,320.6 kilometers
  - Periapsis: 559 kilometers
  - Orbital period: 125.6 minutes
  - Orbital inclination: 32.88 degrees
  - Orbital eccentricity: 0.166

### Mission Objectives
Vanguard 2 was primarily designed to monitor weather and climate through cloud cover observation. It was equipped with scientific instruments to collect meteorological data from its orbit around Earth.

### Legacy and Impact
Vanguard 2 paved the way for modern weather satellites and Earth observation systems. It demonstrated the value of space-based meteorological observations, leading to the development of more sophisticated weather monitoring technologies. The satellite's mission data contributed to early understanding of Earth's atmospheric systems from space.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Vanguard 2",
  "description": "Earth-orbiting weather satellite launched by the United States on February 17, 1959",
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  "sameAs": [
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  "additionalType": "Weather satellite",
  "identifier": "1959-001A",
  "manufacturer": "United States Naval Research Laboratory",
  "launchDate": "1959-02-17",
  "weight": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "unitCode": "KGM",
    "value": "10.2"
  },
  "orbit": {
    "@type": "Orbit",
    "orbitalPeriod": "125.6 minutes",
    "semiMajorAxis": "8317.7 km",
    "eccentricity": "0.166",
    "inclination": "32.88 degrees"
  }
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1959-001A)