Key statistics
Satellite OAO 1 at a glance.
Uptime
21637
Days in orbit
Revolutions
≈ 14.3
Per day
Orbit
LEO
Low Earth Orbit
Inclination
35.0
Latest
Satellite identification and parameters
Extended collection of information and parameters for OAO 1.
Object identification
Identified? True
Debris? False
Object name: OAO 1
International designator: 1966-031A
Object number (NORAD): 2142
Object ID (CCSDS): 2142
Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)
Current information (Y/N): Y
RCS size: LARGE
Orbital parameters
Period: 100.378 minutes
Inclination: 35.0461 deg
SMA: 7154.616 km
Apoapsis: 780.898 km
Periapsis: 772.063 km
RAAN: 78.1932 deg
Eccentricy: 0.0006174
Argument of periapsis: 78.2186 deg
Mean anomaly: 281.9194 deg
Mean motion: 14.34575134 rev/day
Mean motion (dot): 0.0000008 rev/day2
B* drag term: 0.000034723 1/REarth
Two-line elements (TLE)
Creation date: July 3, 2025, 5:26 p.m.
Reference frame: TEME
Reference center: EARTH
Epoch: July 3, 2025, 3:29 a.m. UTC
TLE line 0: 0 OAO 1
TLE line 1: 1 02142U 66031A 25184.14581025 .00000080 00000-0 34723-4 0 9992
TLE line 2: 2 02142 35.0461 78.1932 0006174 78.2186 281.9194 14.34575134100934
Live tracking on map
Real-time ground track for satellite OAO 1.
Associated space launch
OAO 1 (Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 1) was a solar-cell-powered satellite instrumented to make precision astronomical observations and to measure the absorption and emission characteristics of the stars, planets, nebulae, and the interplanetary and interstellar media from visible to gamma-ray regions.
OAO 1 was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Atlas SLV-3 Agena D | OAO 1’, on board a Atlas SLV-3 Agena D space rocket.
The launch took place on April 8, 1966, 7:35 p.m. from Launch Complex 12.
For more information about the launch, click the button.
Atlas SLV-3 Agena D | OAO 1
Agency: N/A
Status: Launch Successful
Launch date: April 8, 1966, 7:35 p.m. UTC
Rocket: Atlas SLV-3 Agena D
Launch pad: Launch Complex 12
Location: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
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