25504 - SCD 2

SCD 2 is a Brazilian (ground) environmental data relaying mini- spacecraft that was launched by a Pegasus rocket from Cape Canaveral at 00:30 UT.

SCD-2 (Satellite de Coleta de Dados-2), INPE's follow on mission on SCD-1, was launched on a Pegasus-XL rocket from Cape Canaveral at 00:30 UT on 23 October 1998. Its sister satellite was to be launched on the first Brazilian VLS but unfortunately failed. Initial orbital parameters were period 99.9 min, apogee 769 km, perigee 743 km, and inclination 25.0 deg.

The spacecraft was cylindrical in shape and measured 1.45 m high and 1 m in diameter. It delivered 70 W of power. Uplinks were at 401.635MHz and 2033.200MHz, and downlinks were at 2208.0000MHz and 2267.5150MHz. It was spin stabilized and carried a reaction wheel experiment and magnetorquers to control the spacecraft spin rate. It carried S-band and UHF communications systems.

The spacecraft was employed for data collection from small stations over the Brazilian territory. In particular it studied hydrology of the Amazon basin, atmospheric chemistry and was employed in oceanography and weather forecasting.

Alternate Names

Data Collection Satellite 2
Satelite de Coleta de Dados 2

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 1998-10-23
Launch Vehicle: Pegasus
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
Mass: 115.0 kg
Nominal Power: 70.0 W