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SURCAL 159, 2872

Orbit data source: Space-Track

SURCAL 159, 2872 is a payload satellite owned by NRL (US) in LEO that was launched on Wed, 31 May 1967 UTC via a THOR SLV-2 AGENA D launch vehicle from the Air Force Western Test Range (AFWTR). Payload-class satellites include a variety of spacecraft equipped with specific instruments for various scientific and technological missions. These include communications satellites like Starlink; space stations such as the ISS; scientific satellites like the Hubble; Earth observation satellites from companies like Planet Labs, Umbra, and HawkEye 360; GPS; miniature CubeSats for education and research; and military/defense satellites.

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Iframe embed code

<iframe src="https://www.satcat.com/sats-embedded/2872?theme=dark&initialShowStats=false" width="600" height="400" frameborder="0" title="Kayhan Space Satcat Satellite Viewer"></iframe>

Iframe URL

https://www.satcat.com/sats-embedded/2872?theme=dark&initialShowStats=false

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ISO8601 Format

Identifier

2872, 1967-053F

Orbit

LEO

Last TLE update

8 hours ago

Origin

United States Navy (US)

Manufacturer

NRL

Mission

Operational Defense Calibration

Bus & Motor

NRL 14"?, Unknown motor

Mass

3 kg wet, 3 kg dry

Launch date (UTC)

1967-05-31 (58 years ago)

Launch vehicle

THOR SLV-2 AGENA D

Launch site

Air Force Western Test Range (AFWTR)

Object type

Payload

Rocket body

Debris

Shape & HBR

Sphere, 0.4 m

Radar Cross Section

0.126 m², Medium (>0.1 m² and < 1m²)

Expand to show TLE details & history

TLE from 8 hours ago

0 SURCAL 159
1 02872U 67053F   25195.60422229  .00000036  00000-0  61378-4 0  9997
2 02872  69.9749   7.6921 0007618 213.8391 146.2231 13.99483627962973

Epoch: 2025-07-14T14:30Z

TLE epoch observation values (Epoch: 2025-07-14T14:30:04.805Z)

Latitude

-0.00005°

Longitude

-142.53865°

Altitude

902.506 km

Speed

7.399 km/s

True Right ascension

00h 30m 46s

True Declination

0° 00' 00"

Sunlit

Object was in daylight at epoch

Visualization orbit readout

Latitude

-50.13613°

Longitude

62.47841°

Altitude

909.245 km

Speed

7.399 km/s

Apparent Right ascension

18h 47m 33s

Apparent Declination

-68° 07' 53"

Sunlit

Object is in daylight

Visualization observer readout

Local Sidereal Time

11:00:28

Azimuth

151.169° SSE

Elevation

-46.401°

Doppler factor

Orbital elements

Apogee altitude

899.166 km

Perigee altitude

888.087 km

Semi-major axis

7,271.763 km

Eccentricity

0.00076

Inclination

69.9749°

RAAN

7.6921°

Arg. of periapsis

213.8391°

True anomaly

Unknown

Mean anomaly

146.2231°

Eccentric anomaly

Unknown

Mean motion

3.50013 °/min

Orbital period

102.85 mins

BSTAR

0.000061378

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Other satellites on launch #53 in the year 1967 (1967-05-31 UTC)

OPS 5712 (P/L 160), 2826

THOR AGENA D R/B, 2825

GGSE 4, 2828

GGSE 5, 2834

TIMATION 1, 2847

OPS 5712 (P/L 152), 2873

OPS 5712 (P/L 153), 2874

SURCAL 150B, 2909

P/L 153 DEB, 19245

P/L 153 DEB, 39247 (Decayed)

SURCAL 159 Visibility forecast

Observer location: undefined°, undefined°

Span	Click to sort rows by Start time (UTC) header in descending order	Start Az.	Max El. time (UTC)	Max El. Az.	Max El.	End time (UTC)	End Az.
9 mins	2025-07-14 23:40:47.328Z	308.911° NW	2025-07-14 23:44:47.328Z	258.116° W	26.24°	2025-07-14 23:49:47.328Z	198.179° SSW
10 mins	2025-07-15 12:55:47.328Z	203.624° SW	2025-07-15 13:00:47.328Z	17.411° NNE	44.449°	2025-07-15 13:05:47.328Z	24.255° NE
5 mins	2025-07-15 14:44:47.328Z	292.839° NW	2025-07-15 14:46:47.328Z	315.71° NNW	15.193°	2025-07-15 14:49:47.328Z	347.341° N
9 mins	2025-07-15 21:56:47.328Z	350.146° N	2025-07-15 22:00:47.328Z	51.657° ENE	37.984°	2025-07-15 22:05:47.328Z	133.823° SE

Authenticating...

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Check out SURCAL 159, 2872 on other resources

View SURCAL 159, 2872 on NASA - NSSDCA Website

View SURCAL 159, 2872 on Heavens-Above

View SURCAL 159, 2872 on Keep Track

View SURCAL 159, 2872 on Celestrak

View SURCAL 159, 2872 on Gunter's Space Page

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