Wednesday, December 16, 1998
Tuesday, December 15, 1998
Skynet 2A
1974-002A
The Skynet 2 series was built by Marconi for the Ministry of Defence Procurement Executive (MOD/PE). Skynet 2 was built in Portsmouth, with the hydrazine RCS built at Mytchett. Skynet 2A, planned for geostationary orbit at 40 deg E, was launched in Jan 1974 by a Delta 2313. (TR-1022 gives AJ10-118F as second stage, but this is probably an error). The Delta's second stage malfunctioned, burning for only 17s instead of 30s on its second burn, leaving the satellite and third stage in a low orbit. The satellite was not acquired by NORAD until Jan 23, and on Jan 24 an attempt was made to raise the orbit with the spacecraft kick motor. This maneuver was modified in real time by ground controllers to ensure a safe reentry of the space vehicle after it became clear that the orbit was untenable.
| Skynet 2A | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 Jan 19 | 0138:47 | Launch by Delta 2313 | CC LC17 |
| T+0:38 SRM 1-3 out | |||
| 0140 | T+1:10 SRM 1-3 sep | ||
| 0142:38 | T+3:48 MECO | ||
| T+3:51 VECO | |||
| 0142:42 | T+3:56 St 1 sep | ||
| 0142:48 | T+4:01 Delta stage 2 SES-1 burn 5:25? | ||
| 0148:02 | T+9:15 Delta SECO-1 | 184 x 184? x 28.7 | |
| 0200 | AOS | ||
| 0200:34 | T+21:47 SES-2, tumbling | ||
| 0200:51 | SECO-2 after 17s | ||
| 0201:44? | T+22:57? Delta sep | 184 x 184 x 28.69 | |
| 0202:21 | T+23:34 Star 37D burn | ||
| 0203:06 | T+24:19 Star 37D shutdown | 113.50 123 x 2261 x 37.7 | |
| 0204:22 | T+25:35 Star 37D sep | ||
| 1974 Jan 20 | 1700 | 121.48 96 x 3406 x 37.6 (rough) | |
| 1974 Jan 24 | 0820 | Telemetry activated | 104.12 101 x 1805 x 37.5 |
| 1237? | Star 24 burn, tumbled | ||
1974 Jan 25 | 0350? | Reentered over Pacific | |