UoSAT-3

UoSAT-3

Mission type	OSCAR
Operator	University of Surrey
COSPAR ID	1990-005B[1]
SATCAT №	20437
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	SSTL
Start of mission
Launch date	22 January 1990, 01:35:27 UTC
Rocket	Ariane 40[2]
Launch site	Kourou ELA-2
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Sun-synchronous
Inclination	98 degrees

UoSAT-3, also known as UO-14 and OSCAR-14, is a British satellite in Low Earth Orbit. It was built by a spin-off company of the University of Surrey, Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) and launched in January 1990 from French Guiana.^[1] The satellite functioned as one of a series of OSCAR satellite in orbit around the Earth, as well as observing Earth and performing scientific experiments.^[2]

UoSAT-3 was launched on the same rocket as its sister satellite, UoSAT-4.^[2]

Current Status

UoSAT-3 exceeded its expected operational life by 3 years and ceased active service in 1999.^[3] However, amateur radio enthusiasts managed to track the satellite for a certain amount of time afterwards via the satellite's FM voice transponder.^[3]

The satellite, which is now non-operational, forms a part of the growing amounts of space debris orbiting around the Earth. The payload will decay in the Earth's atmosphere some time in the future.

References

1. "Sat Cat". Celestrak. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
2. "UoSat 3, 4, 5 (UO 14, 15, 22 / Oscar 14, 15, 22) / Healthsat 1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
3. "Messages from Space". University of Surrey. Retrieved 27 June 2012.