🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
DME-A
Retired 1971DME-A (NORAD 1806, COSPAR 1965-098B) is a retired US satellite, withdrawn from service around 15 Jan 1971, launched on 29 Nov 1965 on the Alouette 2 mission. It was operated by GSFC as part of the Explorer IE programme. The spacecraft was built by APL on the DME bus, with a mass of 98 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.
1965
launched
1971
retired
61
years on orbit
98
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched29 Nov 1965 · on the Alouette 2 mission
Operational9 Jun 1969 · entered service
Retired15 Jan 1971 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID1806
COSPAR1965-098B
TypeSatellite
OperatorGSFC
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerAPL
BusDME
Mass98 kg
ProgrammeExplorer IE
CategorySCI
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude505 × 2,983 km
Inclination79.8°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to DME-A?
DME-A was retired from service around 15 Jan 1971 after launching in 1965. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
How long was DME-A operational?
DME-A was operational for roughly 19 months, from 9 Jun 1969 to 15 Jan 1971.
Who operated and built DME-A?
DME-A was operated by GSFC and built by APL (US).
Launched together
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.