In orbitRocket body

THOR BURNER 2 R/B

NORAD: 5556
COSPAR: 1971-087B

OrbitalWiki publishes live orbits for active satellites only. This object is in the full catalogue: who launched it, what it is and its last published orbit are below, but there are no current orbital elements for it here.

Spacecraft

Built by: Thiokol-Elkton
Owner: USAF Space and Missile Systems Organization
Platform (bus): Star 26
Mass at launch: 353 kg
Dry mass: 115 kg
Total mass with attached parts: 115 kg
Length: 1 m
Diameter: 1 m
Span with arrays and booms: 1 m
Shape: Truss + Sphere + Cone

From GCAT by Jonathan McDowell (CC BY 4.0), record S05556, checked 2026-11-05. About this source

Launch

Launch date: 1971-10-14
Rocket: Thor Burner 2A
Flight: DMSP 4527
Mission name: DMSP Block 5B F-1 (SV-2)
Launch site: V, SLC10W
Launched by: USAF Aerospace Defence Command, 10th Aerospace Defence Sqn.
Rocket performance: Success
Launch designator: 1971-087

From the GCAT launch log, launch 1971-087, checked 2026-11-05. About this source

Catalogue record

Object type: Rocket body
Owner code: US
Launch date: 1971-10-14
Period: 101.1 min
Inclination: 99.13°
Apogee: 857 km
Perigee: 767 km
Radar cross-section: 1.1664 m²

From CelesTrak SATCAT, checked 2026-11-05. About this source

Where it came from

Catalogued pieces that came from it: 1

Everything from this launch

Payload1 in total, 1 still in orbit
Rocket body1 in total, 1 still in orbit