Surcal 5 [NRL]
Official name SURCAL 2
Alternative name Surcal 2
Cospar ID 1965-016G
Norad ID 1310
Launch date 1965-03-09
Launch site AFWTR
Launch vehicle Thor-DM21 Agena-D
Country/Organization USA
Type application Calibration
Operator NRL
RCS size LARGE
Decay date 1981-03-27
Shape Box
Mass (kg) 4.96
Height (m) 0.3
Width (m) 0.2
Depth (m) 0.2
Span (m^2) 0.4
Contractors NRL
Propulsion ?
Power Solar cells, batteries

Surcal (surveillance Calibration) satellites to calibrate the Naval Space Surveillance (NavSpaSur) system. They were produced in cooperation with the NRL group who had designed and developed the NavSpaSur system.

NAVSPASUR was the successor to NRL's innovative Vanguard tracking system, the Minitrack. Launched between 1962 and 1965, the SURCALs were built in different shapes and sizes. In contrast to Surcal 1, they were designed as free-flyers.

Surcal 5 operated for more than 7 years.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
SURCAL 1B 1963-021F 1963-06-15 AFWTR Thor-DM21 Agena-D with Poppy 2A (Solrad 6), Poppy 2B, Poppy 2C (RADOSE), LOFTI 2A, Wild Bill 4
SURCAL 2 1965-016G 1965-03-09 AFWTR Thor-DM21 Agena-D with Poppy 4A (Solrad 7B), Poppy 4B, Poppy 4C (GGSE 2), Poppy 4D (GGSE 3), SECOR 3, Dodecapole 1, OSCAR 3
THOR ABLESTAR DEB 1965-065K 1965-08-13 AFWTR Thor-DSV2A Able-Star with Transit-O 5, Tempsat 1, Dodecapole 2, Long Rod, Calsphere 2