OSCAR 1-50 years
On 12 december 1961 an Agena B rocket launched from Vandenberg, California the first amateur radio satellite named OSCAR 1. OSCAR is an acronym for Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio.
K6GSJ-Lance Ginner with OSCAR1
Oscar 1 was battery powered. Its signals lasted for about two weeks. The batteries were not rechargeable. The transmissions were on 145.00 MHz. The CW signal repeatedly sent HI in morse code. The number of HIs per minute, or the "HI Rate" was the only telemetry sent. The HI Rate gave the internal package temperature. Amateurs were asked to report the HI rate.
OSCAR 1 - 1st Amateur Radio Satellite
