Vela 2A


Vela 2A, also known as Vela 3, Vela Hotel 3 and OPS 3662, was a U.S. military satellite developed to detect nuclear detonations to monitor compliance with the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty by the Soviet Union. The secondary task of the ship was space research.

Launch

Vela 2A was released on July 17, 1964, from the Cape Canaveral [Air Force Station], Florida, through an Atlas-Agena launch vehicle. Vela 2A was launched along with Vela 2B and with ERS 13.

Capabilities

Vela 2A was rotationally stabilized. The ship could work in real time mode or in data recording mode. The first mode was used for the first 40% of the mission's duration. The second one was used until the next pair of Vela satellites were launched.

Instruments