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EXPLORER 16, 506

Orbit data source: Space-Track

EXPLORER 16, 506 is a payload satellite owned by NASA LaRC (US) in LEO that was launched on Sun, 16 Dec 1962 UTC via an SCOUT X-3 launch vehicle from the Wallops Island (WLPIS). 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/506?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/506?theme=dark&initialShowStats=false

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ISO8601 Format

Identifier

506, 1962-070A

Orbit

LEO

Last TLE update

1 day ago

Origin

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (US)

Manufacturer

NASA LaRC

Mission

Civil Science

Bus & Motor

S-55, Unknown motor

Mass

100 kg wet, 76 kg dry

Launch date (UTC)

1962-12-16 (62 years ago)

Launch vehicle

SCOUT X-3

Launch site

Wallops Island (WLPIS)

Object type

Payload

Rocket body

Debris

Shape & HBR

Cyl, 1.93 m

Radar Cross Section

1.071 m², Medium (>0.1 m² and < 1m²)

Expand to show TLE details & history

TLE from 1 day ago

0 EXPLORER 16
1 00506U 62070A   25128.39410956  .00000039  00000-0  11852-3 0  9993
2 00506  52.0016 160.3058 0275893 292.1367  65.0485 13.85681910152631

Epoch: 2025-05-08T09:27Z

Definitive object data (Epoch: 2025-05-08T09:27:31.065Z)

Latitude

-0.00004°

Longitude

151.9611°

Altitude

863.976 km

Speed

7.462 km/s

True Right ascension

10h 41m 13s

True Declination

0° 00' 00"

Sunlit

Object was in daylight at TLE epoch

Visualization TLE readout

Latitude

24.70438°

Longitude

167.96415°

Altitude

960.958 km

Speed

7.366 km/s

Apparent Right ascension

12h 15m 26s

Apparent Declination

-5° 05' 52"

Sunlit

Object is in daylight

Visualization observer readout

Local Sidereal Time

00:56:41

Azimuth

17.641° NNE

Elevation

-53.962°

Doppler factor

Orbital elements

Apogee altitude

1,146.238 km

Perigee altitude

742.201 km

Semi-major axis

7,322.357 km

Eccentricity

0.0275893

Inclination

52.0016°

RAAN

160.3058°

Arg. of periapsis

292.1367°

True anomaly

67.95596°

Mean anomaly

65.0485°

Eccentric anomaly

66.49812°

Mean motion

3.46391 °/min

BSTAR

0.00011852

Orbital period

103.93 mins

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Other satellites on launch #70 in the year 1962 (1962-12-16 UTC)

EXPLORER 16 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.
9 mins	2025-05-10 03:08:09.864Z	175.229° S	2025-05-10 03:12:09.864Z	128.788° SE	24.776°	2025-05-10 03:17:09.864Z	74.423° E
12 mins	2025-05-10 04:55:09.864Z	239.092° WSW	2025-05-10 05:00:09.864Z	291.008° WNW	43.952°	2025-05-10 05:07:09.864Z	50.542° ENE
11 mins	2025-05-10 06:45:09.864Z	287.066° WNW	2025-05-10 06:50:09.864Z	344.935° N	30.034°	2025-05-10 06:56:09.864Z	48.076° ENE
11 mins	2025-05-10 08:36:09.864Z	316.63° NNW	2025-05-10 08:41:09.864Z	16.232° NNE	28.546°	2025-05-10 08:47:09.864Z	71.533° E
12 mins	2025-05-10 10:25:09.864Z	314.282° NW	2025-05-10 10:31:09.864Z	46.853° ENE	41.218°	2025-05-10 10:37:09.864Z	110.042° ESE
11 mins	2025-05-10 12:14:09.864Z	292.258° WNW	2025-05-10 12:19:09.864Z	236.235° WSW	34.304°	2025-05-10 12:25:09.864Z	164.696° S

Authenticating...

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Check out EXPLORER 16, 506 on other resources

View EXPLORER 16, 506 on NASA - NSSDCA Website

View EXPLORER 16, 506 on Heavens-Above

View EXPLORER 16, 506 on Keep Track

View EXPLORER 16, 506 on Celestrak

View EXPLORER 16, 506 on Gunter's Space Page

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