Alouette 2

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Alouette 2 was launched at 4h48 UTC on November 29, 1965 by a Thor Agena Rocket with Explorer 31 from the Western test range at Vandenberg AFB in California. It was (like its predecessor Alouette 1, and Explorer 31) designed to explore the ionosphere.

The name "Alouette" came from the French for "skylark" and from the title of a popular French-Canadian folk song. Alouette II was also known as ISIS-X since it was the first in a series of ISIS satellites: International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies. The next one was called ISIS-I

The Alouette 2 was built up from the identical backup satellite to Alouette 1. It had many more experiments and more sophisticated support systems than the earlier satellite. It lasted for 10 years, being terminated on August 1st, 1975.

RCA Victor of Montreal was the prime contractor.