VANGUARD 3

Satellite information

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Satellite Type and Status

PAYLOADIN ORBIT

Key statistics

Satellite VANGUARD 3 at a glance.

Uptime

24032

Days in orbit

Revolutions

≈ 11.6

Per day

Orbit

MEO

Medium Earth Orbit

Inclination

33.3

Latest

Satellite identification and parameters

Extended collection of information and parameters for VANGUARD 3.

Object identification

Identified? True

Debris? False

Object name: VANGUARD 3

International designator: 1959-007A

Object number (NORAD): 20

Object ID (CCSDS): 20

Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)

Current information (Y/N): Y

RCS size: MEDIUM

Orbital parameters

Period: 124.06 minutes

Inclination: 33.3462 deg

SMA: 8239.771 km

Apoapsis: 3214.581 km

Periapsis: 508.69 km

RAAN: 79.5515 deg

Eccentricy: 0.164197

Argument of periapsis: 348.3135 deg

Mean anomaly: 8.3354 deg

Mean motion: 11.6072695 rev/day

Mean motion (dot): 0.00000866 rev/day2

B* drag term: 0.00034917 1/REarth

Two-line elements (TLE)

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

Reference frame: TEME

Reference center: EARTH

Epoch: July 4, 2025, 12:32 a.m. UTC

TLE line 0: 0 VANGUARD 3

TLE line 1: 1 00020U 59007A 25185.02271596 .00000866 00000-0 34917-3 0 9993

TLE line 2: 2 00020 33.3462 79.5515 1641970 348.3135 8.3354 11.60726950444127

Live tracking on map

Real-time ground track for satellite VANGUARD 3.

In-orbit conjunctions

A list of the most updated potential collisions computed for object VANGUARD 3.

Target Orbit TCA Probability of collision Miss distance Type
METEOR 2-2 LEO 2024-08-25 10:09:53 0.0001789543 989.0 (m) PAYLOAD
DELTA 1 DEB SSO 2024-08-08 04:08:45 0.0001209027 811.0 (m) DEBRIS
COSMOS 2251 DEB LEO 2024-07-01 11:47:37 0.0001199473 216.0 (m) DEBRIS

Associated space launch

Vanguard 3 is a scientific satellite to measure the Earth's magnetic field, solar X-ray radiation and its effects on the Earth's atmosphere and the near-Earth micrometeoroid environment.

VANGUARD 3 was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Vanguard | Vanguard III’, on board a Vanguard space rocket.

The launch took place on Sept. 18, 1959, 5:20 a.m. from Launch Complex 18A.

For more information about the launch, click the button.

Launch to space Vanguard | Vanguard III
Vanguard | Vanguard III

Agency: N/A

Status: Launch Successful

Launch date: Sept. 18, 1959, 5:20 a.m. UTC

Rocket: Vanguard

Launch pad: Launch Complex 18A

Location: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

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