Oldest working orbiting satellite? Todays quiz!
Hi Group,
Ok, so I think I can answer the oldest working Amateur satellite is... (AO7!?)
But what about the oldest:-
Non-working Amateur Satellite still in-orbit? (AO-13?) Non-working commercial sat? Vanguard-1? Working commercial satellite still in orbit?
Many Thanks,
Chris
Non-working Amateur Satellite still in-orbit? (AO-13?)
Oscar III...then Oscar V...Oscar V has no chance of coming back to life, it was battery powered.. III? I dont think that there were enough solar cells on it to actually power the bird, but I could be wrong. I do listen for it.
Non-working commercial sat? Vanguard-1?
Yes. Technically the rocket body is older but that is the oldest in orbit
Working commercial satellite still in orbit?
Probably one of the 1960's ERG's...but I can check.
Robert G. Oler WB5MZO life member AMSAT/ARRL
From: chris@photofuture.co.uk To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 15:13:28 +0000 CC: eu-amsat@yahoogroups.com Subject: [amsat-bb] Oldest working orbiting satellite? Todays quiz!
Hi Group,
Ok, so I think I can answer the oldest working Amateur satellite is... (AO7!?)
But what about the oldest:-
Non-working Amateur Satellite still in-orbit? (AO-13?) Non-working commercial sat? Vanguard-1? Working commercial satellite still in orbit?
Many Thanks,
Chris
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi Robert,
Non-working Amateur Satellite still in-orbit? (AO-13?)
Oscar III...then Oscar V...Oscar V has no chance of coming back to life, it
was battery powered.. III? I dont think that there were enough solar cells on it to actually power the bird, but I could be >wrong. I do listen for it.
Ah, that's interesting.. I did have a quick check on Space Track via date search, but didn't know that III was still there!
Non-working commercial sat? Vanguard-1?
Yes. Technically the rocket body is older but that is the oldest in orbit
Technically the R/B isn't a satellite??
Working commercial satellite still in orbit?
Probably one of the 1960's ERG's...but I can check.
From http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/tech-head-news-items/140262-oldest-workin g-comms-sat.html : (Thanks John LA2QAA)
"The record holder appears to be ATS-3 still nominally operational after an amazing 41 years!"
That's a record we want AO-7 to break isn't it?
Thanks,
Chris
Project OSCAR UK
www.projectoscar.co.uk - www.projectoscar.eu
At 03:43 AM 11/5/2010, Chris Bloy wrote:
Hi Robert,
Non-working Amateur Satellite still in-orbit? (AO-13?)
Oscar III...then Oscar V...Oscar V has no chance of coming back to life, it
was battery powered.. III? I dont think that there were enough solar cells on it to actually power the bird, but I could be >wrong. I do listen for it.
As I said in my last message, I'd have to check. ;)
Non-working commercial sat? Vanguard-1?
Yes. Technically the rocket body is older but that is the oldest in orbit
Technically the R/B isn't a satellite??
The R/B _is_ a satellite if it's in orbit around the Earth, and it's non functional - it became non functional when it finished its job of putting the satellite into its orbit. :)
"The record holder appears to be ATS-3 still nominally operational after an amazing 41 years!"
That's impressive!
That's a record we want AO-7 to break isn't it?
Would be nice. :)
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
Wait a minute! The moon is probably 4 to 4.5 billion years old, and is still operational ;-)
Tom
On Nov 4, 2010, at 2:23 PM, Tony Langdon vk3jed@gmail.com wrote:
At 03:43 AM 11/5/2010, Chris Bloy wrote:
Hi Robert,
Non-working Amateur Satellite still in-orbit? (AO-13?)
Oscar III...then Oscar V...Oscar V has no chance of coming back to life, it
was battery powered.. III? I dont think that there were enough solar cells on it to actually power the bird, but I could be >wrong. I do listen for it.
As I said in my last message, I'd have to check. ;)
Non-working commercial sat? Vanguard-1?
Yes. Technically the rocket body is older but that is the oldest in orbit
Technically the R/B isn't a satellite??
The R/B _is_ a satellite if it's in orbit around the Earth, and it's non functional - it became non functional when it finished its job of putting the satellite into its orbit. :)
"The record holder appears to be ATS-3 still nominally operational after an amazing 41 years!"
That's impressive!
That's a record we want AO-7 to break isn't it?
Would be nice. :)
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi Tony,
Technically the R/B isn't a satellite??
The R/B _is_ a satellite if it's in orbit around the Earth, and it's non
functional - it became non functional when it finished its job of putting the satellite into its orbit. :)
Hmm, this I guess is true so maybe I need to ensure that I include operational communications satellite to rule out the R/B etc!
"The record holder appears to be ATS-3 still nominally operational after an amazing 41 years!"
That's impressive!
Yes, it amazed me too! There really is some amazing information available for this hobby!
That's a record we want AO-7 to break isn't it?
Would be nice. :)
:) Oh yes...! I am yet to make a contact on this old lady, but its coming! (you listening LA2QAA?)
Chris
Depending on how you define "working", one might claim that PCSAT-1 is the oldest working student built satellite?
I still see successful packets on http://pcsat.aprs.org Oh, and this week, I notice ISS APRS packets active on every pass...
Bob, WB4APR
Hello Chris...
Non-working Amateur Satellite still in-orbit? (AO-13?)
Oscar III...then Oscar V...Oscar V has no chance of coming back to life, it
was battery powered.. III? I dont think that there were enough solar cells on it to actually power the bird, but I could be >wrong. I do listen for it.
Ah, that's interesting.. I did have a quick check on Space Track via date search, but didn't know that III was still there!
Yeap III is still there as is 5...6 and 8 are there as well and one wishes that they would pull an 7 and come back to life! It would be great if Arsene came back as well (while we are wishing!)
Non-working commercial sat? Vanguard-1?
Yes. Technically the rocket body is older but that is the oldest in orbit
Technically the R/B isn't a satellite??
well its a satellite...I probably knew at one point but dont know...if the Vanguard rocket third stage had any beacon on it (I doubt it)...
Working commercial satellite still in orbit?
Probably one of the 1960's ERG's...but I can check.
From http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/tech-head-news-items/140262-oldest-workin g-comms-sat.html : (Thanks John LA2QAA)
"The record holder appears to be ATS-3 still nominally operational after an amazing 41 years!"
well got me there...
although "working" might be the kicker. Transit 5B makes "noise" on its beacon frequency but hasnt done any real "work"...thats 64...
I enjoy tracking whats "up" there...almost as much fun as "communicating".
take care Robert WB5MZO life member Amsat/Arrl
Technically it is not a "communications satellite"
Roger WA1KAT
Chris Bloy wrote:
Technically the R/B isn't a satellite??
At 02:13 AM 11/5/2010, Chris Bloy wrote:
Hi Group,
Ok, so I think I can answer the oldest working Amateur satellite is... (AO7!?)
Yep
Non-working Amateur Satellite still in-orbit? (AO-13?)
Hmm, unless one of the first 6 birds was in a fairly high orbit, this would be AO-7. I'd have to check the history of the first 6 OSCARS. And I'm not sure when the Russians started putting up the RS birds either. :)
Non-working commercial sat? Vanguard-1? Working commercial satellite still in orbit?
Not there's some good questions. :)
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
The moon.
;-)
KB7ADL
At 07:42 AM 11/5/2010, Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL wrote:
The moon.
;-)
That thought did cross my mind. The moon is still working in both its original role (as stabiliser of the Earth's axis) and as a passive communications satellite. ;)
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
participants (7)
-
Bob Bruninga -
Chris Bloy -
Rocky Jones -
Roger Kolakowski -
Tom Busch -
Tony Langdon -
Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL