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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

14 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 14 hours ago

0 NIMBUS 2
1 02173U 66040A   25181.78929097 -.00000036  00000-0  23613-4 0  9996
2 02173 100.5691  25.2492 0055798  40.2170 331.6698 13.33697780876788

Epoch: 2025-06-30T18:56Z

TLE epoch observation values (Epoch: 2025-06-30T18:56:34.739Z)

Latitude

11.33894°

Longitude

179.87714°

Altitude

1,097.983 km

Speed

7.322 km/s

True Right ascension

01h 32m 27s

True Declination

11° 16' 33"

Sunlit

Object was in daylight at epoch

Visualization orbit readout

Latitude

-17.94413°

Longitude

-0.85547°

Altitude

1,178.76 km

Speed

7.244 km/s

Apparent Right ascension

11h 24m 42s

Apparent Declination

-34° 23' 17"

Sunlit

Object is in daylight

Visualization observer readout

Local Sidereal Time

20:06:39

Azimuth

261.895° W

Elevation

-50.657°

Doppler factor

Orbital elements

Apogee altitude

1,172.112 km

Perigee altitude

1,088.322 km

Semi-major axis

7,508.354 km

Eccentricity

0.00558

Inclination

100.5691°

RAAN

25.2492°

Arg. of periapsis

40.217°

True anomaly

Unknown

Mean anomaly

331.6698°

Eccentric anomaly

Unknown

Mean motion

3.336 °/min

Orbital period

107.91 mins

BSTAR

0.000023613

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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.
11 mins	2025-07-01 13:00:32.142Z	145.693° SSE	2025-07-01 13:05:32.142Z	85.045° E	41.225°	2025-07-01 13:11:32.142Z	352.493° N
7 mins	2025-07-01 14:49:32.142Z	231.537° WSW	2025-07-01 14:52:32.142Z	264.996° W	20.249°	2025-07-01 14:56:32.142Z	307.416° NW
11 mins	2025-07-02 02:06:32.142Z	29.728° NE	2025-07-02 02:11:32.142Z	105.727° ESE	39.805°	2025-07-02 02:17:32.142Z	178.545° S
9 mins	2025-07-02 03:53:32.142Z	342.931° N	2025-07-02 03:57:32.142Z	296.181° NW	24.716°	2025-07-02 04:02:32.142Z	246.757° WSW

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.