Key statistics
Satellite OAO 1 at a glance.
Uptime
21580
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: 100.379 minutes
Inclination: 35.0471 deg
SMA: 7154.663 km
Apoapsis: 781.415 km
Periapsis: 771.641 km
RAAN: 25.1882 deg
Eccentricy: 0.0006831
Argument of periapsis: 351.8408 deg
Mean anomaly: 8.2168 deg
Mean motion: 14.34560879 rev/day
Mean motion (dot): 0.00000164 rev/day2
B* drag term: 0.000064175 1/REarth
Two-line elements (TLE)
Creation date: May 8, 2025, 3:01 a.m.
Reference frame: TEME
Reference center: EARTH
Epoch: May 7, 2025, 11:27 p.m. UTC
TLE line 0: 0 OAO 1
TLE line 1: 1 02142U 66031A 25127.97728691 .00000164 00000-0 64175-4 0 9999
TLE line 2: 2 02142 35.0471 25.1882 0006831 351.8408 8.2168 14.34560879 92861
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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