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OPS 5268 (DMSP 5A F3), 4953

Orbit data source: Space-Track

OPS 5268 (DMSP 5A F3), 4953 is a payload satellite in SSO that was launched on Wed, 17 Feb 1971 UTC via a THOR BURNER 2 launch vehicle from the Air Force Western Test Range (AFWTR). 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.

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<iframe src="https://www.satcat.com/sats-embedded/4953?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/4953?theme=dark&initialShowStats=false

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ISO8601 Format

Identifier

4953, 1971-012A

Orbit

SSO

Last TLE update

16 hours ago

Origin

USAF Space and Missile Systems Organization (US)

Manufacturer

RCA/East Windsor

Mission

Non-operational Defense Weather

Bus & Motor

DMSP BLOCK 5A, Unknown motor

Mass

104 kg wet, 104 kg dry

Launch date (UTC)

1971-02-17 (54 years ago)

Launch vehicle

THOR BURNER 2

Launch site

Air Force Western Test Range (AFWTR)

Object type

Payload

Rocket body

Debris

Shape & HBR

Cone, 1.2 m

Radar Cross Section

0.985 m², Medium (>0.1 m² and < 1m²)

Expand to show TLE details & history

TLE from 16 hours ago

0 OPS 5268 (DMSP 5A F3)
1 04953U 71012A   25141.58041994  .00000242  00000-0  86799-4 0  9996
2 04953  98.5371   7.4293 0037745 161.4937 198.7634 14.41868090842348

Epoch: 2025-05-21T13:55Z

TLE epoch observation values (Epoch: 2025-05-21T13:55:48.282Z)

Latitude

-0.00011°

Longitude

-80.98415°

Altitude

780.782 km

Speed

7.45 km/s

True Right ascension

00h 29m 43s

True Declination

0° 00' 00"

Sunlit

Object was in daylight at epoch

Visualization orbit readout

Latitude

31.19743°

Longitude

104.85626°

Altitude

729.886 km

Speed

7.507 km/s

Apparent Right ascension

09h 25m 40s

Apparent Declination

-8° 33' 41"

Sunlit

Object is in daylight

Visualization observer readout

Local Sidereal Time

14:36:16

Azimuth

255.496° W

Elevation

3.824°

Doppler factor

Orbital elements

Apogee altitude

776.357 km

Perigee altitude

722.551 km

Semi-major axis

7,127.591 km

Eccentricity

0.00377

Inclination

98.5371°

RAAN

7.4293°

Arg. of periapsis

161.4937°

True anomaly

Unknown

Mean anomaly

198.7634°

Eccentric anomaly

Unknown

Mean motion

3.60686 °/min

Orbital period

99.81 mins

BSTAR

0.000086799

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Other satellites on launch #12 in the year 1971 (1971-02-17 UTC)

THOR BURNER 2 R/B, 4954

OPS 5268 (CALSPHERE 3), 4957 (Decayed)

OPS 5268 (CALSPHERE 4), 4958 (Decayed)

OPS 5268 (CALSPHERE 5), 4963 (Decayed)

OPS 5268 (DMSP 5A F3) 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.
8 mins	2025-05-22 15:02:19.344Z	167.608° S	2025-05-22 15:06:19.344Z	327.639° NNW	44.285°	2025-05-22 15:10:19.344Z	345.462° N
7 mins	2025-05-23 03:10:19.344Z	44.867° NE	2025-05-23 03:13:19.344Z	95.263° ESE	26.255°	2025-05-23 03:17:19.344Z	155.503° SSE
6 mins	2025-05-23 04:49:19.344Z	338.932° N	2025-05-23 04:52:19.344Z	285.437° WNW	25.412°	2025-05-23 04:55:19.344Z	239.862° WSW

Authenticating...

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Check out OPS 5268 (DMSP 5A F3), 4953 on other resources

View OPS 5268 (DMSP 5A F3), 4953 on NASA - NSSDCA Website

View OPS 5268 (DMSP 5A F3), 4953 on Heavens-Above

View OPS 5268 (DMSP 5A F3), 4953 on Keep Track

View OPS 5268 (DMSP 5A F3), 4953 on Celestrak

View OPS 5268 (DMSP 5A F3), 4953 on Gunter's Space Page

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