| Mission type | Atmospheric |
|---|---|
| Operator | RAE |
| Mission duration | Failed to orbit |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2 September 1970, 00:34:05 UTC |
| Rocket | Black Arrow R2 |
| Launch site | Woomera LA-5B |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Epoch | Planned |
Orba, also known as X-2, was intended to be the first satellite launched by a British rocket. It was launched at 00:34 GMT on 2 September 1970, atop a Black Arrow rocket from Launch Area 5B at Woomera, but failed to reach orbit after the second stage of the carrier rocket shut down 13 seconds early.[1] Orba was built from spare parts due to funding restrictions,[2] and was to have been used to measure upper atmosphere density by monitoring the decay of its orbit.[3]
