ATS 2

  1967-031A

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The ATS A (Applications Technology Satellite 2) satellite was designed to test gravity gradient stabilization techniques. The satellite carried two 37.5 m long booms (77m span) for the gravity gradient experiment. Weather cameras and an SHF communications experiment were also carried.

Launched at 0326 UT on 1967 Apr 6 by Atlas Agena D, it was into a 178 x 11124 km x 28.4 deg transfer orbit, attached to the Agena D 6152 stage. The Agena D was meant to re-ignite to place ATS II in a circular 11100 km orbit, but did not restart. At the end of the first burn, an oxidizer propellant isolation valve failed to close, and at the time of the second burn the oxidizer pump could not operate. The solid propellant starter charge added a small amount of velocity to the spacecraft.  The Agena separated and attempts were made to operate the experiments from the incorrect orbit. Some TV pictures and weather photos were received, and the gravity gradient booms were deployed, but no attempt was made to test the gravity gradient system. Operations were ended on Oct 23 and the satellite reentered on 1969 Sep 2.

The results of the radio astronomy experiment gave upper limits on the galactic radio spectrum.

ATS 2
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1967 Apr 6	0323:01	Launch by Atlas Agena D	CC LC12
	0325:10	T+2:09 BECO
	0325:13	T+2:12 Booster sep
	0327:50	T+4:49 SECO
	0328:10	T+5:09 Vernier cutoff
	0328:13	T+5:12 Atlas 5102 sep	-4086 x 192 x 28.3
	0329:11	T+6:10 Agena 6152 burn 1
	0329:21	T+6:20 Fairing sep
	0332:39	T+9:38 Agena MECO-1	218.8 184 x 11134 x 28.4
	0332:47	T+9:46 Isolation valve closure failure
	0521:35	T+1:58:34 Agena burn 2 prep
	0521:37	T+1:58:36 Burn 2 due, failed
	0523:43	T+2:00:42 Agena sep	218.9 196 x 11133 x 28.3
			219.72 186 x 11180 x 28.3
1967 Jul 22			206.68 182 x 10220 x 28.4
1967 Oct 23		End of operations
1969 Apr 2			123.86 171 x 3533 x 28.4
1969 Sep 2		Reentered