OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3)
NORAD 20437
Payload
LEO
1990-005B
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🛰️ Orbital Parameters
Perigee
774 km
Apogee
787 km
Inclination
98.8°
Period
100.5 min
Mean Motion
14.33268094 rev/day
TLE Epoch
2026-06-19 02:00:00 UTC
📐 Computed Orbital Characteristics
Avg. Altitude781 km
Orbital Velocity26,877 km/h
Velocity7.47 km/s
Orbital Period100 minutes
Orbits / Day14.33
Eccentricity0.0009
Semi-Major Axis7,152 km
Orbit ClassSun-Synchronous (SSO)
Est. Orbital Lifetime~25–100 years
🚀 Launch & Identity
Country / Operator
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Launch Date
1990-01-22
Launch Site
Guiana Space Centre, Kourou
Int'l Designator
1990-005B
Object Type
Payload
RCS Size
Medium (0.1–1 m²)
📖 About This Object
OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3) is an active satellite operated by United Kingdom, launched on 1990-01-22 from Guiana Space Centre, Kourou. With over 36 years in orbit, it has far exceeded many satellites’ design lifetimes. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 774 km and 787 km with an inclination of 98.8°. It travels at approximately 26,877 km/h (7.47 km/s), completing one full orbit every 100 minutes — that’s roughly 14.33 orbits per day. Its near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit means it passes over any given point on Earth at approximately the same local solar time, ideal for consistent Earth observation lighting conditions. Its near-circular orbit (eccentricity close to zero) means it maintains a very consistent altitude throughout each revolution. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~25–100 years. Orbital Radar tracks OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3) in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.
🌍 Orbit Context
OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3) orbits at an average altitude of 781 km in a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), a specialised subset of LEO where the orbital plane precesses to maintain a constant angle relative to the Sun. This provides consistent lighting conditions on every pass — essential for Earth observation, weather monitoring and environmental science. Within ±50 km of OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3)’s average altitude, there are currently 401 active payloads and 2,195 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include NOAA 20, ONEWEB-0179, ONEWEB-0455. With an inclination of 98.8°, OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3) passes over latitudes between 98.8°N and 98.8°S, providing near-global coverage including the polar regions. Polar and near-polar orbits are used for reconnaissance, weather monitoring and Earth-observation missions that need to image every part of the planet. United Kingdom operates approximately 720 active satellites in total, of which 6 share a similar altitude band with OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3).
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3) is in a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), a specialised form of LEO at approximately 781 km altitude. Its 98.8° inclination causes the orbital plane to precess at exactly the rate of the Earth’s revolution around the Sun, so the satellite crosses each latitude at a consistent local solar time. It completes one orbit every 100 minutes, travelling at 26,877 km/h.
OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3) is operated by United Kingdom. It is catalogued by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network under NORAD ID 20437. You can track OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3) in real time on Orbital Radar’s live tracker or browse all operators in the operator directory.
OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3) was launched on 1990-01-22 from Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, the European spaceport in French Guiana, chosen for its equatorial location which provides an energy-efficient boost for orbital insertions. At its current altitude, the estimated remaining orbital lifetime is: ~25–100 years. View the full satellite launch log.
Yes — Orbital Radar tracks OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3) (NORAD ID 20437) using the latest TLE (two-line element set) data from Space-Track and CelesTrak. Open the live tracker to see its current position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated in real time. You can also browse the satellite directory to find other tracked objects.
OSCAR 14 (UOSAT 3) travels at approximately 26,877 km/h (16,700 mph) — roughly 7.47 km/s. It completes 14.33 orbits per day, meaning the crew or instruments aboard (if any) would experience approximately 29 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.