Ariel 2
 Ariel 2 before launch | |
| Names | Ariel2, S 52, S 52A, UK 2, UK-C |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Radio astronomy |
| Operator | SERC / NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 1964-015A |
| SATCAT no. | 771 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Westinghouse Electric |
| Launch mass | 68 kilograms (150 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 27 March 1964, 17:25:23 UTC |
| Rocket | Scout X-3 |
| Launch site | Wallops Island LA-3 |
| Contractor | NASA |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | November 1964 |
| Decay date | 18 November 1967 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Eccentricity | 0.0733267483 |
| Perigee altitude | 289 kilometres (180 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 1,343 kilometres (835 mi) |
| Inclination | 51.6 degrees |
| Period | 101.21 minutes |
| Epoch | 3 May 1964 |
Ariel 2, also known as UK-C, was a British radio astronomy satellite, which was operated by the Science and Engineering Research Council as part of the Ariel programme. It was built in America by Westinghouse Electric, and had a mass at launch of 68 kilograms (150 lb). It was launched in 1964, and became the first satellite to be used for radio astronomy, although the Canadian satellite Alouette 1 was launched 1962 and also did similar radio astronomy observations.