Key statistics
Satellite OAO 1 at a glance.
Uptime
21695
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: 100.377 minutes
Inclination: 35.0453 deg
SMA: 7154.567 km
Apoapsis: 781.464 km
Periapsis: 771.399 km
RAAN: 116.7397 deg
Eccentricy: 0.00070339
Argument of periapsis: 185.7253 deg
Mean anomaly: 174.3355 deg
Mean motion: 14.3458979 rev/day
Mean motion (dot): 0.00000243 rev/day2
B* drag term: 0.000091753117 1/REarth
Two-line elements (TLE)
Creation date: Aug. 31, 2025, 2:26 a.m.
Reference frame: TEME
Reference center: EARTH
Epoch: Aug. 30, 2025, 11 p.m. UTC
TLE line 0: 0 OAO 1
TLE line 1: 1 02142U 66031A 25242.95864373 .00000243 00000-0 91753-4 0 9993
TLE line 2: 2 02142 35.0453 116.7397 0007034 185.7253 174.3355 14.34589790109389
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
...
Latest news about this satellite
There are no fresh news available about this satellite. Check back as we update our databases every day.
Newsletter sign-up
Weekly statistics, charts and insights to help you stay on top of the space industry.
