- Orba (satellite)
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Orba (X-2) Operator RAE Mission type Atmospheric Launch date 2 September 1970 Carrier rocket Black Arrow R2 Launch site LA-5B, Woomera Mission duration Failed to reach orbit Orbital elements Regime LEO (intended) Orba, also known as X-2, was intended to be the first satellite launched by a British rocket. It was launched at 00:34 GMT on 2 September 1970, atop a Black Arrow rocket from Launch Area 5B at Woomera, but failed to reach orbit after the second stage of the carrier rocket shut down 13 seconds early.[1] Orba was built from spare parts due to funding restrictions,[2] and was to have been used to measure upper atmosphere density by monitoring the decay of its orbit.[3]
See also
References
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Black Arrow". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/blaarrow.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ Hill, Nicholas. "Black Arrow". A Vertical Empire. Space UK. http://www.spaceuk.org/ba/ba.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Orba (X 2)". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/orba.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
Components Payloads Orba · R2 Instrument Package | ProsperoOther Categories:- Satellite launch failures
- British space programme
- Spacecraft launched by Black Arrow rockets
- Spacecraft stubs
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