Space Brief 8 Apr 2025
Key highlights include the launch of a Navy SEAL astronaut to the ISS, multi-billion dollar contracts awarded by the US Space Force, advancements in secure GPS technology, and a strategic ISR arrangement.
Launch Date
February 3, 1971
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC17A
Launch Vehicle
Thor Delta M
NORAD ID
04902
International Designator
1971-009A
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:46:52 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
1.11°
Right Ascension
244.66°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
247.05°
Period
1436.10 min
Mean Motion
1.00 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
NATO 2B
Alternative Name
NATO IIB
Type
Status
Owner
NATO
Country
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 04902U 71009A 26185.24088170 -.00000077 00000-0 00000-0 0 9999
2 04902 1.1105 244.6574 0003246 247.0463 132.4856 1.00271913118810
Source: Celestrak
Apologies, there is no summary for this satellite yet. I am working to generate these for every object in the catalog, but it is going to take time.
Length
1.4
Diameter
0.8
Span
1.6
Dry Mass
107
Launch Mass
118
Shape
Cyl + Ant
Radar Cross Section
1.8141
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
NATOSAT-II
Purpose
Military communication
Mission
Military communication
Manufacturer
PHFO
Life Expectancy
5 years
Bus
Skynet
Configuration
Skynet-1 Bus
Motor
Star 17A
Equipment
One 2 MHz and one 20 MHz bandwidth double-conversion repeater
Power System
Solar cells (body mounted), batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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