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AMSAT-OSCAR-10


NASA/NORAD number: 14129
Launch Date: 16 June 1983, Kourou, French Guiana.
Orbit type: Elliptical, inclination 27 degrees, altitude 3997/35449 km
Weight: 90 kg with fuel.
Stabilization: Magnetorquer.
Transponders: Mode B 50W, Mode L 50W (nominal?)
Telemetry: 64 channels, ASCII/Baudot teletype.
Antennas:
Power: 50 W solar array, 2 NiCd batteries.

Notes: Phase IIIB (IIIA lost in Ariane crash). First amateur satellite with onboard propulsion (which did not function entirely correctly, due to collision with part of the launch vehicle after separation - hence the not-quite-Molniya-type orbit). Computer control failed December 1986 due to radiation damage to memory.

References:
Amsat Satellite Report, no. 60/61, 62, August 1, September 7, 1983.
"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.
"Phase III suffers Watery Fate", Steve Place, WB1EYI, QST, July 1980, p. 45.

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