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Lunar Orbiter 2

"Lunar Orbiter-B"
NSSDC ID: 66-100A

Description:
The Lunar Orbiter 2 spacecraft was designed primarily to photo-
graph smooth areas of the lunar surface for selection and
verification of safe landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo
missions. It was also equipped to collect selenodetic, radiation
intensity, and micrometeoroid impact data. The spacecraft was
placed in a cislunar trajectory and injected into an elliptical lunar
orbit for data acquisition. It was stabilized in a three-axis
orientation by using the sun and the star Canopus as primary 
ngular references. A three-axis inertial system provided
stabilization during maneuvers and when the sun and Canopus
were occulted by the Moon. Communications were maintained
by an S-band system which utilized a directional and an
omnidirectional antenna. The spacecraft acquired photographic
data from November 18 to 25, 1966, and readout occurred
through December 7, 1966. Accurate data were acquired from
all other experiments throughout the mission. The spacecraft
was used for tracking purposes until it impacted the lunar
surface on command at 3.0 degrees N latitude, 119.1
degrees E longitude (selenographic coordinates) on October
11, 1967. 

Launch Information:
Launch Date/Time: 1966-11-06 at 23:21:00 UTC
Launch Site/Country: Cape Canaveral, United States
On-orbit dry mass: 385.60 kg
Launch Vehicle: Atlas-Agena D
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