OrbView 2 [OrbImage]
Official name ORBVIEW 2 (SEASTAR)
Alternative name OrbView 2
Cospar ID 1997-037A
Norad ID 24883
Launch date 1997-08-01
Launch site WRAS
Launch vehicle Pegasus-XL
Country/Organization USA
Type application Earth observation
Operator OrbImage (for NASA) → GeoEye
RCS size LARGE
Decay date ON ORBIT
Period (min) 100.33
Inclination (deg) 98.82
Perigee (km) 773
Apogee (km) 776
Eccentricity 0.00193673337637185
Mean motion (revs. per day) 14.3526363002093
Semi-Major axis (km) 7152.635
Raan (deg) 297.9714
Arg of perigee (deg) 161.278
Shape Cyl + 4 Pan
Mass (kg) 306.24
Diameter (m) 1.12
Height (m) 2.13
Span (m^2) 4.3
Lifetime 5 years (planned); 13 years (achieved)
Contractors Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC)
Equipment SeaWiFS
Propulsion ?
Configuration PegaStar
Power 4 deployable fixed solar arrays, batteries

OrbView 2, also known as SeaStar, is a commercial Earth observation satellite, which operates its SeaWiFS sensor for NASA.

The purpose of the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Project is to provide quantitative data on global ocean bio-optical properties to the Earth science community. Subtle changes in ocean color signify various types and quantities of marine phytoplankton (microscopic marine plants), the knowledge of which has both scientific and practical applications.

On 11 December 2010, after more than 13 years, the communication with the instrument ceased.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
ORBVIEW 2 (SEASTAR) 1997-037A 1997-08-01 WRAS Pegasus-XL