Space Brief 5 Feb 2025
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HETE-2 (26561)
COSPAR: 2000-061A | Alt Name: HETE 2
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
October 9, 2000
Launch Site
Launch Pad
RW06/24
Launch Vehicle
Pegasus H
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
26561
International Designator
2000-061A
Epoch
Sat, 06 Jan 2024 12:11:07 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
1.94°
Right Ascension
347.79°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
67.57°
Period
94.88 min
Mean Motion
15.18 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
HETE-2
Alternative Name
HETE 2
Type
Payload
Status
Non-operational
Owner
GSFC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 26561U 00061A 24005.50772891 .00009088 00000-0 38599-3 0 9999
2 26561 1.9416 347.7946 0020616 67.5655 292.6569 15.17702077276946
Source: Celestrak
Summary
HETE-2, also known as HETE 2, is a satellite with the NORAD catalog ID of 26561 and object ID 2000-061A. It was manufactured by MIT for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and launched on October 9, 2000, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, using a Pegasus H launch vehicle from launch pad RW06/24. The satellite has dimensions of 0.7 meters in length, 0.5 meters in diameter, and a span of 1.1 meters. It weighs 124 kilograms at launch and dry mass is also 124 kg. Its mission was gamma ray astronomy, and it achieved an operational lifetime significantly beyond its planned duration, lasting 7.5 years instead of the intended 1.5 years. The satellite's equipment includes FREGATE, WXM, and SXC systems. It uses four deployable fixed solar arrays for power generation along with batteries. The spacecraft is shaped like a box with an RCS (reflectivity coefficient) of 0.6309.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0.7
Diameter
0.5
Span
1.1
Dry Mass
124
Launch Mass
124
Shape
Box
Radar Cross Section
0.6309
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
HETE 2
Purpose
Gamma ray astronomy
Mission
Gamma ray astronomy
Manufacturer
MIT
Life Expectancy
1.5 years (planned), 7.5 years (achieved)
Bus
HETE
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
None
Equipment
FREGATE, WXM, SXC
Power System
4 deployable fixed solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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