🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
NATOSAT-II
Retired 1983NATOSAT-II (NORAD 4902, COSPAR 1971-009A) is a retired I-NATO satellite, withdrawn from service around 1 May 1983, launched on 3 Feb 1971 on the NATO IIB mission. It was operated by NATO as part of the NATO programme. The spacecraft was built by PHFO on the Skynet bus, with a mass of 118 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.
1971
launched
1983
retired
55
years on orbit
118
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched3 Feb 1971 · on the NATO IIB mission
Operational1 May 1983 · entered service
Retired1 May 1983 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID4902
COSPAR1971-009A
TypeSatellite
OperatorNATO
Country / StateI-NATO
ManufacturerPHFO
BusSkynet
Mass118 kg (107 kg dry)
ProgrammeNATO
CategoryCOM
OrbitGEO (GEO/S)
Altitude35,777 × 35,795 km
Inclination2.4°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to NATOSAT-II?
NATOSAT-II was retired from service around 1 May 1983 after launching in 1971. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
Who operated and built NATOSAT-II?
NATOSAT-II was operated by NATO and built by PHFO (I-NATO).
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.