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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

1 day 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 1 day ago

0 NIMBUS 2
1 02173U 66040A   25195.52599385 -.00000030  00000-0  34936-4 0  9990
2 02173 100.5682  39.3988 0055499   8.2757  45.6950 13.33698336878612

Epoch: 2025-07-14T12:37Z

TLE epoch observation values (Epoch: 2025-07-14T12:37:25.868Z)

Latitude

53.18903°

Longitude

-96.95286°

Altitude

1,112.401 km

Speed

7.315 km/s

True Right ascension

01h 40m 09s

True Declination

53° 01' 54"

Sunlit

Object was in daylight at epoch

Visualization orbit readout

Latitude

-60.01179°

Longitude

79.99754°

Altitude

1,178.809 km

Speed

7.252 km/s

Apparent Right ascension

17h 47m 47s

Apparent Declination

-64° 17' 25"

Sunlit

Object is in daylight

Visualization observer readout

Local Sidereal Time

08:45:31

Azimuth

148.329° SSE

Elevation

-54.66°

Doppler factor

Orbital elements

Apogee altitude

1,171.886 km

Perigee altitude

1,088.544 km

Semi-major axis

7,508.352 km

Eccentricity

0.00555

Inclination

100.5682°

RAAN

39.3988°

Arg. of periapsis

8.2757°

True anomaly

Unknown

Mean anomaly

45.695°

Eccentric anomaly

Unknown

Mean motion

3.336 °/min

Orbital period

107.91 mins

BSTAR

0.000034936

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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.
8 mins	2025-07-16 01:00:16.361Z	54.849° ENE	2025-07-16 01:04:16.361Z	91.395° ESE	16.459°	2025-07-16 01:08:16.361Z	127.986° SE
11 mins	2025-07-16 02:46:16.361Z	12.626° NNE	2025-07-16 02:51:16.361Z	283.28° WNW	44.635°	2025-07-16 02:57:16.361Z	202.862° SW
5 mins	2025-07-16 04:34:16.361Z	327.301° NNW	2025-07-16 04:36:16.361Z	308.326° NW	15.053°	2025-07-16 04:39:16.361Z	280.37° WNW
11 mins	2025-07-16 13:05:16.361Z	146.305° SSE	2025-07-16 13:10:16.361Z	74.157° E	41.98°	2025-07-16 13:16:16.361Z	351.439° N
7 mins	2025-07-16 14:54:16.361Z	234.594° WSW	2025-07-16 14:57:16.361Z	268.221° W	19.773°	2025-07-16 15:01:16.361Z	308.779° NW

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.