Oscar

Satellites

OSCAR I - the first amateur satellite, launched December 12, 1961 by a Thor Agena B rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, piggybacked as ballast with Discover 36. It weighed 4.5 kg and was placed in a 372 x 211 km orbit, inclined 81.2 degrees, with an orbital period of 91.8 minutes. Over 570 amateurs in 28 countries heard its Morse code "hi hi" message on the two meter band. Its 140 mw battery-powered transmitter lasted 3 weeks. OSCAR I reentered on January 31, 1962.

Related Topics:
December 12 - 1961 - Thor - Agena - Vandenberg Air Force Base - Discover - Morse code - January 31 - 1962

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• UO-11 UoSAT-OSCAR 11 (aka UoSAT 2)
• AO-10 AMSAT-OSCAR 10 (aka Phase 3B)
• FO-29 Fuji-OSCAR 29 (aka Fuji-3 and JAS-2)
• AO-40 AMSAT-OSCAR 40 (aka Phase 3D)
• AO-51 AMSAT-OSCAR 51 (aka AMSAT ECHO, and ECHO)

(Note: This list is not complete. More than 70 Amateur Satellites have been launched.)

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