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NIMBUS 2, 2173

Orbit data source: Space-Track

NIMBUS 2, 2173 is a payload satellite owned by GSFC (US) in SSO that was launched on Sun, 15 May 1966 UTC via a THOR SLV-2A AGENA B launch vehicle from the Air Force Western Test Range (AFWTR). Payload-class satellites include a variety of spacecraft equipped with specific instruments for various scientific and technological missions. These include communications satellites like Starlink; space stations such as the ISS; scientific satellites like the Hubble; Earth observation satellites from companies like Planet Labs, Umbra, and HawkEye 360; GPS; miniature CubeSats for education and research; and military/defense satellites.

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<iframe src="https://www.satcat.com/sats-embedded/2173?theme=dark&initialShowStats=false" width="600" height="400" frameborder="0" title="Kayhan Space Satcat Satellite Viewer"></iframe>

Iframe URL

https://www.satcat.com/sats-embedded/2173?theme=dark&initialShowStats=false

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ISO8601 Format

Identifier

2173, 1966-040A

Orbit

SSO

Last TLE update

6 hours ago

Origin

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (US)

Manufacturer

GE/MSVD

Mission

Non-operational Civil Weather

Bus & Motor

NIMBUS, Unknown motor

Mass

414 kg wet, 414 kg dry

Launch date (UTC)

1966-05-15 (59 years ago)

Launch vehicle

THOR SLV-2A AGENA B

Launch site

Air Force Western Test Range (AFWTR)

Object type

Payload

Rocket body

Debris

Shape & HBR

Cone + 2 Pan, 3.35 m

Radar Cross Section

2.947 m², Large (>1 m²)

Expand to show TLE details & history

TLE from 6 hours ago

0 NIMBUS 2
1 02173U 66040A   25188.54970009 -.00000020  00000-0  54796-4 0  9995
2 02173 100.5687  32.2129 0055661  24.5328  30.3788 13.33697963877683

Epoch: 2025-07-07T13:11Z

TLE epoch observation values (Epoch: 2025-07-07T13:11:34.087Z)

Latitude

53.95773°

Longitude

-106.21564°

Altitude

1,105.569 km

Speed

7.322 km/s

True Right ascension

01h 09m 44s

True Declination

53° 48' 06"

Sunlit

Object was in daylight at epoch

Visualization orbit readout

Latitude

-73.80902°

Longitude

49.09669°

Altitude

1,184.428 km

Speed

7.249 km/s

Apparent Right ascension

17h 58m 43s

Apparent Declination

-69° 45' 31"

Sunlit

Object is in daylight

Visualization observer readout

Local Sidereal Time

07:40:12

Azimuth

164.061° S

Elevation

-57.331°

Doppler factor

Orbital elements

Apogee altitude

1,172.009 km

Perigee altitude

1,088.424 km

Semi-major axis

7,508.353 km

Eccentricity

0.00557

Inclination

100.5687°

RAAN

32.2129°

Arg. of periapsis

24.5328°

True anomaly

Unknown

Mean anomaly

30.3788°

Eccentric anomaly

Unknown

Mean motion

3.336 °/min

Orbital period

107.91 mins

BSTAR

0.000054796

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Other satellites on launch #40 in the year 1966 (1966-05-15 UTC)

NIMBUS 2 Visibility forecast

Observer location: undefined°, undefined°

Span	Click to sort rows by Start time (UTC) header in descending order	Start Az.	Max El. time (UTC)	Max El. Az.	Max El.	End time (UTC)	End Az.
13 mins	2025-07-08 02:06:35.367Z	24.173° NE	2025-07-08 02:13:35.367Z	112.896° SE	39.981°	2025-07-08 02:19:35.367Z	179.512° S
9 mins	2025-07-08 03:55:35.367Z	341.013° N	2025-07-08 03:59:35.367Z	293.318° NW	24.526°	2025-07-08 04:04:35.367Z	246.075° WSW
10 mins	2025-07-08 12:28:35.367Z	117.548° SE	2025-07-08 12:32:35.367Z	66.999° ENE	30.04°	2025-07-08 12:38:35.367Z	1.258° NNE
10 mins	2025-07-08 14:14:35.367Z	200.9° SSW	2025-07-08 14:18:35.367Z	252.87° W	32.627°	2025-07-08 14:24:35.367Z	326.945° NNW

Authenticating...

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Check out NIMBUS 2, 2173 on other resources

View NIMBUS 2, 2173 on NASA - NSSDCA Website

View NIMBUS 2, 2173 on Heavens-Above

View NIMBUS 2, 2173 on Keep Track

View NIMBUS 2, 2173 on Celestrak

View NIMBUS 2, 2173 on Gunter's Space Page

Satcat and Kayhan Space are not affiliated with NASA, Celestrak, Heavens-Above, Keep Track, or Gunter's Space Page.