VesselSat-2

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = VesselSat-2

| image =

| image_caption =

| mission_type = Ship tracking

| operator = LuxSpace (lessor)
Orbcomm (operator)

| website =

| COSPAR_ID = 2012-001B

| SATCAT = 38047

| mission_duration = Planned: 3 years
Achieved: 4 years

| spacecraft_bus =

| manufacturer = LuxSpace

| dry_mass =

| launch_mass = {{convert|29|kg}}

| dimensions =

| power =

| instruments =

| launch_date = {{start-date|9 January 2012, 03:17|timezone=yes}} UTC

| launch_rocket = Chang Zheng 4B Y26

| launch_site = Taiyuan LC-9

| launch_contractor =

| disposal_type =

| deactivated =

| last_contact = {{end-date|January 2016}}

| decay_date =

| orbit_epoch = 31 October 2013, 18:34:19 UTC{{cite web|url=http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=38047|title=VESSELSAT 2 Satellite details 2012-001B NORAD 38047|work=N2YO|date=31 October 2013|access-date=31 October 2013}}

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Low Earth

| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|472|km|mi}}

| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|484|km|mi}}

| orbit_inclination = 97.43 degrees

| orbit_period = 94.02 minutes

| apsis = gee

}}

VesselSat-2 (aka Orbcomm FM43, V2) was a Luxembourgian microsatellite built and owned by LuxSpace, and operated by Orbcomm under lease. It carried a receiver for Automatic Identification System signals, used to track ships at sea. VesselSat-2 was the second of two VesselSat spacecraft (see VesselSat-1), which were built by LuxSpace for Orbcomm, as replacements for the AIS capabilities of the failed Orbcomm-QL spacecraft.{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/vesselsat-1.htm|title=VesselSat 1, 2, 3|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|work=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=15 October 2019}}

VesselSat-2 was launched as a secondary payload on a Long March 4B carrier rocket which was carrying Ziyuan 3. The launch occurred at 03:17 UTC on 9 January 2012,{{cite web|url=http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2012/01-09/3590223.shtml|script-title=zh:中国成功发射首颗高精度立体测绘卫星"资源三号"|publisher=ChinaNews.com|date=9 January 2012|access-date=9 January 2012|language=zh}} from Launch Complex 9 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, and was the first orbital launch of the year.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/01/china-opens-2012-ziyuan-3-launch-long-march-4b/|title=China opens 2012 with ZiYuan-3 launch via Long March 4B|first=Rui C.|last=Barbosa|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=8 January 2012|access-date=9 January 2012}}