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Photo of Australis-OSCAR 5

Australis-OSCAR 5
(OSCAR 5 )


Spacecraft Summary

OSCAR Designation:  Australis-OSCAR 5     Oscar Number:  AO-5    
International Designator:  1970-008B     Norad Number:  4321    
Common Name:  OSCAR 5     Satellite Type:  Microsatellite    
Launch Date:  23 January, 1970     Launch Location:  Vandenberg, AFB    
Launch Vehicle:  Thor Delta     Apogee:  1477.00    
Perigee:  1434.00     Inclination:  102.04    
Period:  115.00     Dimensions:  30.4 x 43.1 x 15.2 cm    
Weight:  17.700 Kg    
Organization: University of Melbourne


Frequency Information
 
Mode V TLM Beacon: Non-Operational
Downlink 144.0500 MHz CW
 
Mode A TLM Beacon: Non-Operational
Downlink 29.4500 MHz CW

Current Keplerian Elements

AO-5
1 04321U 70008B   10246.54939606 -.00000031  00000-0  10000-3 0  3656
2 04321 102.1066 270.7076 0027430 221.4940 138.4051 12.52160373856253


Detailed Description

Australis-OSCAR 5 was launched January 23, 1970 by a Thor Delta launcher from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Lompoc, California. AO-5 was launched piggyback with ITOS-1 (TIROS-M weather satellite). Orbit 1476 x 1431 km. Inclination 101.8 degrees. Period 115 minutes. Weight 17.7 kg (9 kg of which was battery mass). Box shaped 304 x 431 x 152 mm. 2 meter monopole and 10 meter dipole antennas.

Firsts: The first amateur satellite to be remotely controlled.

Built by students at The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Battery powered, Australis-OSCAR 5 transmitted telemetry on both 2 meter (144.050 MHz at 50 mW) and 10 meter (29.450 MHz at 250 mW) bands that operated for 23 and 46 days respectively. Passive magnetic attitude stabilization was performed by carrying two bar magnets to align with the Earth's magnetic field in order to provide a favorable antenna footprint. The University of Melbourne compiled tracking reports from hundreds of stations in 27 countries.


Reference Documents:

  • William Dunkerley Jr., "Australis Oscar 5: The Launch Story," QST, Apr 1970, p. 61.
  • David Bellair and Stephen Howard, "Australis Oscar - Its Design, Construction and Operation," QST, Jul 1969, pp 58-61.
  • David Bellair and Stephen Howard, "Obtaining Data from Australis-Oscar 5," QST, Aug 1969, pp 70, 72, 82.
  • Jan King, "Proposed Experiments with Australis-Oscar 5," QST, Dec 1969, pp 54-55.
  • "Strays," QST, Mar 1970, p. 86 (a bibliography on AO-5).
  • Ray Soifer, "Australis-Oscar 5 Ionospheric Propagation Results," QST, Oct 1970, pp 54-57.
  • Jan King, "Australis-Oscar 5 Spacecraft Performance," QST, Dec 1970, pp 64-69.

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