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SURCAL 159, 2872

Orbit data source: Space-Track

SURCAL 159, 2872 is a payload satellite owned by NRL (US) in LEO that was launched on Wed, 31 May 1967 UTC via a THOR SLV-2 AGENA D 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 embed code

<iframe src="https://www.satcat.com/sats-embedded/2872?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/2872?theme=dark&initialShowStats=false

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ISO8601 Format

Identifier

2872, 1967-053F

Orbit

LEO

Last TLE update

12 hours ago

Origin

United States Navy (US)

Manufacturer

NRL

Mission

Operational Defense Calibration

Bus & Motor

NRL 14"?, Unknown motor

Mass

3 kg wet, 3 kg dry

Launch date (UTC)

1967-05-31 (58 years ago)

Launch vehicle

THOR SLV-2 AGENA D

Launch site

Air Force Western Test Range (AFWTR)

Object type

Payload

Rocket body

Debris

Shape & HBR

Sphere, 0.4 m

Radar Cross Section

0.126 m², Medium (>0.1 m² and < 1m²)

Expand to show TLE details & history

TLE from 12 hours ago

0 SURCAL 159
1 02872U 67053F   25189.81487080  .00000048  00000-0  69839-4 0  9992
2 02872  69.9747  20.1566 0007849 220.0244 140.0286 13.99482424962166

Epoch: 2025-07-08T19:33Z

TLE epoch observation values (Epoch: 2025-07-08T19:33:24.837Z)

Latitude

0.00003°

Longitude

159.79867°

Altitude

902.28 km

Speed

7.399 km/s

True Right ascension

01h 20m 37s

True Declination

0° 00' 00"

Sunlit

Object was in daylight at epoch

Visualization orbit readout

Latitude

-6.26982°

Longitude

156.44192°

Altitude

902.903 km

Speed

7.398 km/s

Apparent Right ascension

03h 33m 50s

Apparent Declination

-30° 55' 53"

Sunlit

Object is in daylight

Visualization observer readout

Local Sidereal Time

19:41:28

Azimuth

100.12° ESE

Elevation

-39.764°

Doppler factor

Orbital elements

Apogee altitude

899.338 km

Perigee altitude

887.923 km

Semi-major axis

7,271.767 km

Eccentricity

0.00078

Inclination

69.9747°

RAAN

20.1566°

Arg. of periapsis

220.0244°

True anomaly

Unknown

Mean anomaly

140.0286°

Eccentric anomaly

Unknown

Mean motion

3.50012 °/min

Orbital period

102.85 mins

BSTAR

0.000069839

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Other satellites on launch #53 in the year 1967 (1967-05-31 UTC)

OPS 5712 (P/L 160), 2826

THOR AGENA D R/B, 2825

GGSE 4, 2828

GGSE 5, 2834

TIMATION 1, 2847

OPS 5712 (P/L 152), 2873

OPS 5712 (P/L 153), 2874

SURCAL 150B, 2909

P/L 153 DEB, 19245

P/L 153 DEB, 39247 (Decayed)

SURCAL 159 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.
7 mins	2025-07-09 12:49:58.052Z	141.802° SSE	2025-07-09 12:53:58.052Z	96.047° ESE	18.729°	2025-07-09 12:56:58.052Z	62.311° ENE
10 mins	2025-07-09 14:33:58.052Z	221.861° SW	2025-07-09 14:37:58.052Z	276.535° WNW	40.123°	2025-07-09 14:43:58.052Z	16.774° NNE
4 mins	2025-07-09 21:50:58.052Z	25.34° NE	2025-07-09 21:52:58.052Z	47.051° ENE	13.521°	2025-07-09 21:54:58.052Z	68.291° E
10 mins	2025-07-09 23:34:58.052Z	339.926° N	2025-07-09 23:38:58.052Z	43.505° NE	44.325°	2025-07-09 23:44:58.052Z	151.898° SSE
4 mins	2025-07-10 01:21:58.052Z	280.6° WNW	2025-07-10 01:23:58.052Z	258.661° W	13.722°	2025-07-10 01:25:58.052Z	237.447° WSW

Authenticating...

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Check out SURCAL 159, 2872 on other resources

View SURCAL 159, 2872 on NASA - NSSDCA Website

View SURCAL 159, 2872 on Heavens-Above

View SURCAL 159, 2872 on Keep Track

View SURCAL 159, 2872 on Celestrak

View SURCAL 159, 2872 on Gunter's Space Page

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