Showing default

VANGUARD 3, 20

Orbit data source: Space-Track

VANGUARD 3, 20 is a payload satellite owned by GSFC (US) in LEO that was launched on Fri, 18 Sep 1959 UTC via a VANGUARD launch vehicle from the Air Force Eastern Test Range (AFETR). Payload-class satellites include a variety of spacecraft equipped with specific instruments for various scientific and technological missions. These include communications satellites like Starlink; space stations such as the ISS; scientific satellites like the Hubble; Earth observation satellites from companies like Planet Labs, Umbra, and HawkEye 360; GPS; miniature CubeSats for education and research; and military/defense satellites.

Loading next visibility...

Iframe embed code

<iframe src="https://www.satcat.com/sats-embedded/20?theme=dark&initialShowStats=false" width="600" height="400" frameborder="0" title="Kayhan Space Satcat Satellite Viewer"></iframe>

Iframe URL

https://www.satcat.com/sats-embedded/20?theme=dark&initialShowStats=false

Optional Secondary NORAD IDs

Max 10 NORAD IDs; Separated by commas

Initial load time (optional)

ISO8601 Format

TLE date request (optional)

ISO8601 Format

Identifier

20, 1959-007A

Orbit

LEO

Last TLE update

7 hours ago

Origin

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (US)

Manufacturer

NRL

Mission

Civil Science

Bus & Motor

NRL 20", Unknown motor

Mass

47 kg wet, 23 kg dry

Launch date (UTC)

1959-09-18 (66 years ago)

Launch vehicle

VANGUARD

Launch site

Air Force Eastern Test Range (AFETR)

Object type

Payload

Rocket body

Debris

Shape & HBR

Sphere + Cyl, 2.5 m

Radar Cross Section

1.104 m², Medium (>0.1 m² and < 1m²)

Expand to show TLE details & history

TLE from 7 hours ago

0 VANGUARD 3
1 00020U 59007A   25183.90375163  .00000861  00000-0  34574-3 0  9997
2 00020  33.3469  83.5720 1642085 342.3257  12.6157 11.60725076443995

Epoch: 2025-07-02T21:41Z

TLE epoch observation values (Epoch: 2025-07-02T21:41:24.14Z)

Latitude

-0.00006°

Longitude

-162.95684°

Altitude

554.258 km

Speed

8.164 km/s

True Right ascension

05h 34m 17s

True Declination

0° 00' 00"

Sunlit

Object was in daylight at epoch

Visualization orbit readout

Latitude

17.33382°

Longitude

-12.2007°

Altitude

3,134.645 km

Speed

5.955 km/s

Apparent Right ascension

14h 40m 24s

Apparent Declination

-15° 41' 51"

Sunlit

Object is in daylight

Visualization observer readout

Local Sidereal Time

16:28:50

Azimuth

210.078° SW

Elevation

28.925°

Doppler factor

Orbital elements

Apogee altitude

3,218.236 km

Perigee altitude

511.15 km

Semi-major axis

8,242.83 km

Eccentricity

0.16421

Inclination

33.3469°

RAAN

83.572°

Arg. of periapsis

342.3257°

True anomaly

Unknown

Mean anomaly

12.6157°

Eccentric anomaly

Unknown

Mean motion

2.9002 °/min

Orbital period

124.13 mins

BSTAR

0.00034574

Loading maneuver chart data...

Loading SW <> Apogee altitude chart data...

Loading historical data...

Other satellites on launch #7 in the year 1959 (1959-09-18 UTC)

VANGUARD 3 DEB, 29005 (Decayed)

VANGUARD 3 DEB, 31405 (Decayed)

VANGUARD 3 Visibility forecast

Observer location: undefined°, undefined°

Span	Click to sort rows by Start time (UTC) header in descending order	Start Az.	Max El. time (UTC)	Max El. Az.	Max El.	End time (UTC)	End Az.
13 mins	2025-07-03 04:43:26.322Z	210.004° SW	2025-07-03 04:43:26.322Z	210.004° SW	25.739°	2025-07-03 04:56:26.322Z	167.211° S
13 mins	2025-07-03 20:36:26.322Z	198.839° SSW	2025-07-03 20:40:26.322Z	151.314° SSE	27.169°	2025-07-03 20:49:26.322Z	90.796° ESE
20 mins	2025-07-03 22:45:26.322Z	244.098° WSW	2025-07-03 22:52:26.322Z	161.662° S	40.861°	2025-07-03 23:05:26.322Z	96.453° ESE
26 mins	2025-07-04 00:56:26.322Z	262.612° W	2025-07-04 01:05:26.322Z	189.687° SSW	40.861°	2025-07-04 01:22:26.322Z	117.733° SE
28 mins	2025-07-04 03:08:26.322Z	265.395° W	2025-07-04 03:19:26.322Z	209.278° SW	32.67°	2025-07-04 03:36:26.322Z	147.967° SSE

Authenticating...

Click to sort rows by Secondary header in ascending order	Click to sort rows by Secondary name header in ascending order	Click to sort rows by Country header in ascending order	Click to sort rows by Owner header in ascending order	Click to sort rows by Obj. Type header in ascending order	Click to sort rows by Miss dist. header in ascending order	Click to sort rows by Rel. speed header in ascending order	Click to sort rows by Apr. angle header in ascending order	Click to sort rows by TCA header in ascending order

Check out VANGUARD 3, 20 on other resources

View VANGUARD 3, 20 on NASA - NSSDCA Website

View VANGUARD 3, 20 on Heavens-Above

View VANGUARD 3, 20 on Keep Track

View VANGUARD 3, 20 on Celestrak

View VANGUARD 3, 20 on Gunter's Space Page

Satcat and Kayhan Space are not affiliated with NASA, Celestrak, Heavens-Above, Keep Track, or Gunter's Space Page.