OSCAR-III
Launch Date: 9 March 1965.
Orbit type: Circular polar LEO (70 degree inclination), altitude 575
miles
Weight: 36 lbs.
Stabilization: none.
Payloads: Transponder, two beacons.
Beacon:
Transponder: 1W, 50kHz bandwidth, 146 MHz uplink, 144 MHz downlink
(linear translator).
Telemetry: 3 channels (?).
Antennas: Two half-wave dipoles
Power: 2.5 W solar cells, silver-nickel or silver-zinc battery.
Notes: First Amateur satellite with solar power. First transponder.
Transponder operational life 18 days (battery-limited). Beacons operated for
several months from the solar cells.
References:
"The Oscar III V.H.F. Translator Satellite", William I. Orr, W6SAI,
QST, February 1963, p. 42.
"Oscar III - Technical Description", Arthur M. Walters, W6DKH, QST, June 1964, p. 17.
"Oscar III Orbits the Earth", William I. Orr, W6SAI, QST, May 1965, p.56.
"The Satellite Experimenter's Handbook", 1st edition, Martin Davidoff, K2UBC, American Radio Relay League, Newington, CT, 1985.
"OSCAR at 25: The Amateur Space Program Comes of Age", Jan King, W3GEY, et al., QST, December 1986, p. 15.
Satellite List
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