Launched November 15, 1974 by a Delta rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, AMSAT-OSCAR 7 provided many years of service till it went silent from battery failure in mid 1981. Then on June 21, 2002, some 21 YEARS later and thanks to the keen ears of Pat Gowen, G3IOR while checking for interlopers on 2 meters he came across a strange CW signal. Sounding like old OSCAR satellite telemetry, it had the familiar HI HI followed by a string of numbers in groups of three.
After monitoring by many ground stations it turned out to be AO-7, and it seemed to have come back from the dead. No one knows exactly when this resurrection took place but this being the anniversary of when it was discovered operational again by Pat, I guess it's the unofficial birthday date.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AO-7, our highest operating satellite at this time. We can only hope you live another long and active life. With five years under your belt for the second time around, your well on your way.
Keith N4ZQ FN33aq