Small Astronomy Satellite 2
Artist's impression of SAS-2 | |
| Mission type | Earth science |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 1972-091A |
| SATCAT no. | 6282 |
| Mission duration | 6 months and 24 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Launch mass | 166.0 kilograms (366.0 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 15 November 1972 |
| Rocket | Scout D-1 |
| Launch site | San Marco |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | June 8, 1973 |
| Decay date | 16 April 1979 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Eccentricity | 0.01366 |
| Perigee altitude | 443 kilometers (275 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 632 kilometers (393 mi) |
| Inclination | 1.9 degrees |
| Period | 95.40 minutes |
| Epoch | 15 November 1972, 22:13:00 UTC |
The Small Astronomy Satellite 2, also known also as SAS-2, SAS B or Explorer 48, was a NASA gamma ray telescope. It was launched on 15 November 1972 into the low Earth orbit with a periapsis of 443 km and an apoapsis of 632 km. It completed its observations on 8 June 1973.