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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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Identifier
2173, 1966-040A
Orbit
SSO
Last TLE update
6 hours ago
Origin
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
1
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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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 mins2025-07-08 02:06:35.367Z24.173° NE2025-07-08 02:13:35.367Z112.896° SE39.981°2025-07-08 02:19:35.367Z179.512° S
9 mins2025-07-08 03:55:35.367Z341.013° N2025-07-08 03:59:35.367Z293.318° NW24.526°2025-07-08 04:04:35.367Z246.075° WSW
10 mins2025-07-08 12:28:35.367Z117.548° SE2025-07-08 12:32:35.367Z66.999° ENE30.04°2025-07-08 12:38:35.367Z1.258° NNE
10 mins2025-07-08 14:14:35.367Z200.9° SSW2025-07-08 14:18:35.367Z252.87° W32.627°2025-07-08 14:24:35.367Z326.945° NNW
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