OAO 3 (COPERNICUS)

Satellite information

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Satellite Type and Status

PAYLOADIN ORBIT

Key statistics

Satellite OAO 3 (COPERNICUS) at a glance.

Uptime

19433

Days in orbit

Revolutions

≈ 14.6

Per day

Orbit

LEO

Low Earth Orbit

Inclination

35.0

Latest

Satellite identification and parameters

Extended collection of information and parameters for OAO 3 (COPERNICUS).

Object identification

Identified? True

Debris? False

Object name: OAO 3 (COPERNICUS)

International designator: 1972-065A

Object number (NORAD): 6153

Object ID (CCSDS): 6153

Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)

Current information (Y/N): Y

RCS size: LARGE

Orbital parameters

Period: 98.64 minutes

Inclination: 35.0063 deg

SMA: 7071.79 km

Apoapsis: 698.559 km

Periapsis: 688.751 km

RAAN: 302.9284 deg

Eccentricy: 0.00069344

Argument of periapsis: 203.1556 deg

Mean anomaly: 173.7631 deg

Mean motion: 14.59851633 rev/day

Mean motion (dot): 0.00000508 rev/day²

B* drag term: 0.00010890343 1/R_Earth

Two-line elements (TLE)

Creation date: Nov. 2, 2025, 5:34 p.m.

Reference frame: TEME

Reference center: EARTH

Epoch: Nov. 2, 2025, 7:36 a.m. UTC

TLE line 0: 0 OAO 3 (COPERNICUS)

TLE line 1: 1 06153U 72065A 25306.31721250 .00000508 00000-0 10890-3 0 9996

TLE line 2: 2 06153 35.0063 302.9284 0006934 203.1556 173.7631 14.59851633827578

Live tracking on map

Real-time ground track for satellite OAO 3 (COPERNICUS).

In-orbit conjunctions

A list of the most updated potential collisions computed for object OAO 3 (COPERNICUS).

Target	Orbit	TCA	Probability of collision	Miss distance	Type
SL-8 DEB *	LEO	2025-02-26 17:02:07	0.0002189362	270.0 (m)	DEBRIS
CZ-2D DEB	SSO	2025-01-03 23:54:45	0.0001542334	782.0 (m)	DEBRIS
THOR ABLESTAR DEB	LEO	2024-11-15 10:11:49	0.0001671441	238.0 (m)	DEBRIS
DELTA 2 R/B	SSO	2024-08-18 00:28:45	0.0001008877	266.0 (m)	ROCKET BODY

Associated space launch

Third Orbiting Astronomical Observatory satellite, equipped with an UV telescope and three X-ray telescopes.

OAO 3 (COPERNICUS) was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Atlas SLV-3C Centaur | Copernicus’, on board a Atlas SLV-3C Centaur space rocket.

The launch took place on Aug. 21, 1972, 10:28 a.m. from Launch Complex 36B.

For more information about the launch, click the button.

Atlas SLV-3C Centaur | Copernicus

Agency: N/A

Status: Launch Successful

Launch date: Aug. 21, 1972, 10:28 a.m. UTC

Rocket: Atlas SLV-3C Centaur

Launch pad: Launch Complex 36B

Location: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

...

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