SACI-2

SACI-2
A SACI satellite being tested
Mission typeEarth orbiter
OperatorINPE
COSPAR ID1999-F05
Mission durationLaunch failure
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerINPE
Launch mass80 kilograms (180 lb)
Power150 watts
Start of mission
Launch dateNovember 11, 1999 (1999-11-11), 19:40:00 UTC
RocketVLS-1 V2
Launch siteAlcântara VLS Pad
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun-synchronous
Eccentricity0.00084
Perigee altitude733 kilometres (455 mi)
Apogee altitude745 kilometres (463 mi)
Inclination98.6°
Period99.6 minutes
EpochPlanned

The SACI-2 was a Brazilian experimental satellite, designed and built by the Brazilian Institute for Space Research (INPE). It was launched on 11 December 1999 from the INPE base in Alcântara, Maranhão, by the Brazilian VLS-1 V02 rocket. Due to failure of its second stage, the rocket veered off course and had to be destroyed 3 minutes and 20 seconds after launch.

The name was officially an acronym of Satélite de Aplicações CIentíficas ("Scientific Applications Satellite"), but was obviously taken from the Saci character of Brazilian folklore.