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Vela 2A

Re-entered 1 Jan 1972

Vela 2A (NORAD 836, COSPAR 1964-040A) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 Jan 1972, launched on 17 Jul 1964 on the Vela 2A mission. It was operated by AFSSD as part of the Vela programme. The spacecraft was built by TRW on the Vela bus, with a mass of 125 kg. Like most satellites in low orbits, it was gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until re-entry. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.

1964
launched
1972
re-entered
8
years on orbit
125
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched17 Jul 1964 · on the Vela 2A mission
Operational1 Dec 1969 · entered service
Retired1 Dec 1969 · end of operational service
Re-entered1 Jan 1972 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID836
COSPAR1964-040A
TypeSatellite
OperatorAFSSD
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerTRW
BusVela
Mass125 kg
ProgrammeVela
CategoryEW
Orbit (VHEO)
Altitude101,986 × 104,470 km
Inclination39.2°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Vela 2A?

Vela 2A re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 Jan 1972, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1964. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Vela 2A re-enter the atmosphere?

Vela 2A re-entered on 1 Jan 1972, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Vela 2A?

Vela 2A was operated by AFSSD and built by TRW (US).

Launched together

Vela 2BRe-entered 1969ERS 13Re-entered 1966
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.
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