| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | USAF |
| COSPAR ID | 1963-042B[1] |
| SATCATno. | 682 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | P-11 |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin / MIT |
| Launch mass | 60 kilograms (130 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | October 29, 1963, 21:19 (1963-10-29UTC21:19Z) UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Thor SLV-2A Agena D 386 |
| Launch site | VandenbergSLC-1W |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | May 23, 1965 (1965-05-24) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Eccentricity | 0.02201 |
| Perigee altitude | 285 kilometres (177 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 585 kilometres (364 mi) |
| Inclination | 89.9° |
| Period | 93.4 minutes |
| Epoch | October 29, 1963 (1963-10-29) |
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Hitchhiker 2 (orP-11 4202,P-11 AS andOPS 3316) was asatellite launched byU.S. Air Force. It was launched with the aim of studying and measuringcosmic radiation. The satellite was the second successful satellite of theP-11 program, following the failure of the first Hitchhiker satellite in March 1963. It was launched on October 29, 1963 fromVandenberg Air Force Base,California, on aThor-Agena launch vehicle.
OnMay 23, 1965, the satellite re-entered the Earth'satmosphere.
