It has often been reported that the oldest satellites still working in space are, collectively, the JPL Space Probes Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. The Voyagers were both launched in 1977 to take advantage of the planetary alignment called, back then, the “Grand Tour”. This was the alignment of the outer planets, which allowed, using gravitational assist, both Voyagers to visit multiple planets each. Both missions were nothing short of spectacular and they still expand our imaginations. Their images changed the human vision of our solar system. But, are they really the oldest, still functional spacecraft in outer space?
What if we include spacecraft that remained behind in Earth Orbit? Is it even believable to state that the oldest still working satellite in space wasn’t even designed or operated by NASA, USAF, ESA or any other space agency? What if it was stated that this satellite was designed by radio amateurs and the final assembly occurred in a basement laboratory not far from Goddard Space Flight Center? What if it was noted that 2024 is the 50th anniversary of this satellite, launched on 15 November 1974? The spacecraft, AMSAT-OSCAR-7 (AO-7) is still providing service to hundreds of radio operators around the world, as it has for a very, very long time. And, would you believe that the oldest satellite working around our planet is a SmallSat weighing 29 Kg?
The above, as nearly as we can determine, is all true and this is the amazing story of what made this possible and why this satellite is sometimes called the “Sleeping Beauty Satellite.” The video tells the story of how the mission was conceived, how radio amateurs from four countries worked together to develop a very complex spacecraft with quite a creative payload.
We want to explain the many successes of this communications satellite during its primary mission, and we want to surprise you with the extended mission, which continues to this day. Let's watch the video about this wonderful little satellite that could, also called the "Sleeping Beauty Satellite", but this satellite is far from sleeping.
A few links with interesting reading:
AMSAT-OSCAR-7
A Still Operational, Small-Satellite
History Lesson
https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-co...
Project OSCAR original Board of Directors
around 1960
https://lso.fe.uni-lj.si/literatura/R...
AMSAT-OSCAR 7 Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMSAT-O...
Photos/Documentation:
Jan A. King (OSCAR 7 Project Manager)
AMSAT
