ESSA 1 (OT-3)

Satellite information

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Satellite Type and Status

PAYLOADIN ORBIT

Key statistics

Satellite ESSA 1 (OT-3) at a glance.

Uptime

21702

Days in orbit

Revolutions

≈ 14.5

Per day

Orbit

SSO

Sun Synchronous Orbit

Inclination

97.9

Latest

Satellite identification and parameters

Extended collection of information and parameters for ESSA 1 (OT-3).

Object identification

Identified? True

Debris? False

Object name: ESSA 1 (OT-3)

International designator: 1966-008A

Object number (NORAD): 1982

Object ID (CCSDS): 1982

Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)

Current information (Y/N): Y

RCS size: MEDIUM

Orbital parameters

Period: 99.438 minutes

Inclination: 97.8602 deg

SMA: 7109.865 km

Apoapsis: 789.615 km

Periapsis: 673.845 km

RAAN: 237.571 deg

Eccentricy: 0.0081415

Argument of periapsis: 98.0915 deg

Mean anomaly: 262.9526 deg

Mean motion: 14.4814074 rev/day

Mean motion (dot): 0.00000171 rev/day²

B* drag term: 0.000054897 1/R_Earth

Two-line elements (TLE)

Creation date: July 4, 2025, 6:39 p.m.

Reference frame: TEME

Reference center: EARTH

Epoch: July 4, 2025, 2:33 p.m. UTC

TLE line 0: 0 ESSA 1 (OT-3)

TLE line 1: 1 01982U 66008A 25185.60692200 .00000171 00000-0 54897-4 0 9992

TLE line 2: 2 01982 97.8602 237.5710 0081415 98.0915 262.9526 14.48140740107632

Live tracking on map

Real-time ground track for satellite ESSA 1 (OT-3).

In-orbit conjunctions

A list of the most updated potential collisions computed for object ESSA 1 (OT-3).

Target	Orbit	TCA	Probability of collision	Miss distance	Type
NOAA 16 DEB	SSO	2025-05-28 19:17:28	0.0001198616	488.0 (m)	DEBRIS
COSMOS 1818 COOLANT	LEO	2025-04-12 12:11:29	0.0001819088	765.0 (m)	DEBRIS
COSMOS 252 DEB	LEO	2025-02-17 05:30:15	0.000310172	93.0 (m)	DEBRIS
FENGYUN 1C DEB	SSO	2024-11-10 05:28:24	0.0001491729	936.0 (m)	DEBRIS
SL-16 DEB	LEO	2024-06-19 13:12:18	0.0008425913	277.0 (m)	DEBRIS

Associated space launch

The ESSA series was the second generation of US meterological satellites after the TIROS (Television & Infra-Red Observation Satellite) series. They were also called OT (Operational TIROS), TOS (TIROS Operational Satellite).

ESSA 1 (OT-3) was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Thor Delta C | ESSA 1’, on board a Thor Delta C space rocket.

The launch took place on Feb. 3, 1966, 7:41 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 17A.

For more information about the launch, click the button.

Thor Delta C | ESSA 1

Agency: N/A

Status: Launch Successful

Launch date: Feb. 3, 1966, 7:41 a.m. UTC

Rocket: Thor Delta C

Launch pad: Space Launch Complex 17A

Location: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

...

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