OSCAR 10

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OSCAR 10
OSCAR 10
Type: Amateur radio satellite
Operator: AMSAT
COSPAR-ID : 1983-058B
Mission dates
Dimensions: 140 kg at the start
Size: 60 cm diameter × 50 cm
Begin: June 16, 1983
Starting place: Center Spatial Guyanais
Launcher: Ariane 1
Orbit data
Rotation time : 700 min
Orbit inclination : 26.6 °
Apogee height :  35,450 km
Perigee height :  4000 km

OSCAR 10 (also AMSAT-OSCAR 10 , COSPAR name : 1983-058B) is an amateur radio satellite of the OSCAR series. On June 16, 1983, when an Ariane 1 launcher was launched from the Center Spatial Guyanais, it was initially brought into a geostationary transfer orbit as a secondary payload with the ECS-1 satellite . Then he maneuvered with the help of the on-board engine system into a so-called Molnija orbit with the apogee over the northern hemisphere. It was built by AMSAT Germany.

Structure and payload

The satellite had a launch mass of 140 kg and an empty mass of 44 kg and the shape of a three-axis star with a diameter of 60 cm and a height of 50 cm (without antennas).

OSCAR 10 is equipped with various antenna systems. On the top there are three dipole antennas for circularly polarized signals for the frequency range of 435 MHz, as well as three single pole antennas with reflectors for the 144 MHz frequency range ( 2 m band ). In addition, there is an omnidirectional radiating antenna for the 70 cm or 2 m range at each end of the star. It has two transponders, one of them a mode B (around 50 connections at 150 kHz bandwidth, receives in the 70 cm band and transmits in the 2 m band) and a mode L (no longer in operation, received in the 23 cm tape and sent on 70 cm tape). The satellite is spin stabilized and rotates at around 30 revolutions per minute.

As the first amateur radio satellite, it allowed longer radio links around the world for the first time. Due to the loss of the on-board computer in December 1986, it is no longer controllable, but can still be used by radio amateurs.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ OSCAR 10 in the NSSDCA Master Catalog , accessed on May 27, 2014 (English).
  2. ↑ AMSAT OSCAR-10. AMSAT DL, archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on May 27, 2014 .
  3. ↑ Amateur radio satellite OSCAR 10th DARC local association W 35, April 13, 2013, accessed on May 27, 2014 .