🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
OSCAR 3
Retired 1965OSCAR 3 (NORAD 1293, COSPAR 1965-016F) is a retired US satellite, withdrawn from service around 1 Jun 1965, launched on 9 Mar 1965 on the Secor Type II S/N 1 mission. It was operated by OSCAR as part of the OSCAR programme. The spacecraft was built by OSCAR on the OSCAR bus, with a mass of 15 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.
1965
launched
1965
retired
61
years on orbit
15
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched9 Mar 1965 · on the Secor Type II S/N 1 mission
Operational1 Jun 1965 · entered service
Retired1 Jun 1965 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID1293
COSPAR1965-016F
TypeSatellite
OperatorOSCAR
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerOSCAR
BusOSCAR
Mass15 kg
ProgrammeOSCAR
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude904 × 941 km
Inclination70.1°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to OSCAR 3?
OSCAR 3 was retired from service around 1 Jun 1965 after launching in 1965. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
Who operated and built OSCAR 3?
OSCAR 3 was operated by OSCAR and built by OSCAR (US).
Launched together
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.