The Day Fiery Failure Launched NASA
Sixty-eight years ago, America's first satellite exploded on the launchpad in front of the entire world. But from the ashes of Vanguard TV-3 came the determination that would eventually win the Space Race.
Launch Date
December 16, 1991
Launch Site
FRGUI
Launch Pad
ELA2
Launch Vehicle
Ariane 44L
NORAD ID
21813
International Designator
1991-084A
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 03:46:29 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
14.62°
Right Ascension
6.33°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
212.34°
Period
1455.27 min
Mean Motion
0.99 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
TELECOM 2A
Alternative Name
Telecom 2A
Type
Status
Owner
FTEL
Country
France
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 21813U 91084A 26185.15729043 -.00000025 00000-0 00000-0 0 9998
2 21813 14.6156 6.3333 0001670 212.3422 152.4572 0.98950853124266
Source: Celestrak
Length
3.1
Diameter
1.9
Span
22
Dry Mass
1130
Launch Mass
2275
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
12.5892
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Telecom 2A
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
MMST
Life Expectancy
10.25 years
Bus
Eurostar 2000
Configuration
Eurostar-2000
Motor
R-4D-11
Equipment
10 C-band transponders, 11 Ku-band transponders, 5 X-band transponders
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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