OSCAR 16 (PACSAT)

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OSCAR 16 (PACSAT) is classified as:

Amateur radio

NORAD ID: 20439

Int'l Code: 1990-005D

Perigee: 782.0 km

Apogee: 797.6 km

Inclination: 98.7 °

Period: 100.5 minutes

Semi major axis: 7160 km

RCS: 0.1139 m² (medium)

Launch date: January 22, 1990
Source: United States (US)
Launch site: FRENCH GUIANA (FRGUI)

Uplink (MHz): 145.920
Downlink (MHz): 437.026
Beacon (MHz):
Mode: FM USB
Call sign:
Status: Inactive

AO-16 has been reconfigured to provide Radio Amateurs with a novel FM to SSB satellite transponder. The satellite was launched 18 years ago on 22nd January 1990 and it is testimony to the high standards of Amateur Radio satellite design and construction that it is still operating after all these years. Commercial Low-Earth orbit satellites typically have a lifetime of just a few years. The long lifetime of Amateur Satellites is one reason why the Amateur Satellite Service needs the assurance of access to low-noise floor spectrum for several decades after a satellite is launched. None of the Amateur Satellite Service allocations between 435 MHz and 24 GHz are Primary and the existing secondary allocations have seen significant increases in the noise floor or sell-offs to other users, which jeopardises missions.