TransitSatellite trademark — Track, Predict, Explore
OtherLEOTracked liveResearch draft

OAO 3 (COPERNICUS)

Copernicus, also known as OAO-3, was launched in 1972 as a joint U.S.-U.K. ultraviolet and X-ray astronomy observatory. It studied stars and the interstellar medium and helped establish high-resolution ultraviolet spectroscopy as a powerful astronomical tool.

Track live

Object identity

NORAD ID
06153
COSPAR ID
1972-065A
Operator
Not listed
Country
Not listed
Launch date
Not listed

Immediate discovery

Why this satellite matters

Spectroscopy turns light into a mathematical fingerprint. By measuring absorption and emission at specific wavelengths, scientists infer composition, temperature, velocity and physical conditions far beyond direct reach.

Understanding the mission

Science and engineering ideas

Spectroscopy turns light into a mathematical fingerprint. By measuring absorption and emission at specific wavelengths, scientists infer composition, temperature, velocity and physical conditions far beyond direct reach.

Mission

Mission and purpose

The current public orbital catalog identifies this object, but verified mission-specific information may be limited. TransitSatellite will expand this page when authoritative information is available.

  • Spectroscopy turns light into a mathematical fingerprint. By measuring absorption and emission at specific wavelengths, scientists infer composition, temperature, velocity and physical conditions far beyond direct reach.

Design

Engineering

Spectroscopy turns light into a mathematical fingerprint. By measuring absorption and emission at specific wavelengths, scientists infer composition, temperature, velocity and physical conditions far beyond direct reach.

Real orbital values

The mathematics

The current two-line element set reports approximately 14.601 revolutions per day. Dividing 1,440 minutes by that value gives an estimated orbital period of 98.6 minutes.

Period

98.6 min

Representative speed

27,029 km/h

Representative altitude

700 km

Inclination

35.01°

These are representative calculations derived from current orbital elements, not fixed physical specifications. Altitude and speed change around an elliptical orbit, and predictions change as new orbital elements are published.

Launch record

Launch and deployment

Copernicus launched on 21 August 1972 aboard an Atlas-Centaur from Cape Canaveral.

TransitSatellite does not estimate historical launch weather. Temperature, clouds, wind, holds, and scrub reasons will appear only when supported by traceable historical sources.

Orbit

LEO orbit explained

Low Earth orbit is the region closest to Earth used by most crewed spacecraft, many science missions, Earth-observation satellites, and large constellations. Objects move quickly and commonly complete an orbit in roughly 90 to 130 minutes.

LEO can provide detailed Earth views, lower communications delay, and easier access than higher orbits, but it covers less area per spacecraft and is more affected by atmospheric drag.

Live TransitSatellite experience

See OAO 3 (COPERNICUS) moving now

Open the live tracker to view its current calculated position, trajectory, orbital information, visibility tools, and Save and Share controls.

Track this satellite

Learning

Questions to explore

  • What can an orbit tell us before the mission is fully identified?
  • Why are stable catalog identifiers important?

Evidence

Sources and data notes

Current identity and orbital elements come from CelesTrak’s public GP data. Calculated orbit values are derived from the current TLE and may change after catalog updates. Mission-history claims are added separately and require authoritative sources.

Catalog updated

Sep 17, 2026, 8:52 AM UTC

Story review

1970-01-01T00:00:00.000Z