🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
NATOSAT-I
Retired 1977NATOSAT-I (NORAD 4353, COSPAR 1970-021A) is a retired I-NATO satellite, withdrawn from service around 1 Jan 1977, launched on 20 Mar 1970 on the NATO IIA mission. It was operated by NATO as part of the NATO programme. The spacecraft was built by PHFO on the Skynet bus, with a mass of 118 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.
1970
launched
1977
retired
56
years on orbit
118
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched20 Mar 1970 · on the NATO IIA mission
Operational1 Jan 1977 · entered service
Retired1 Jan 1977 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID4353
COSPAR1970-021A
TypeSatellite
OperatorNATO
Country / StateI-NATO
ManufacturerPHFO
BusSkynet
Mass118 kg (107 kg dry)
ProgrammeNATO
CategoryCOM
OrbitGEO (GEO/S)
Altitude35,780 × 35,794 km
Inclination3.0°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to NATOSAT-I?
NATOSAT-I was retired from service around 1 Jan 1977 after launching in 1970. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
Who operated and built NATOSAT-I?
NATOSAT-I was operated by NATO and built by PHFO (I-NATO).
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.