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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   25114.68994421  .00000112  00000-0  16513-3 0  9995
2 00506  52.0032 212.2408 0275802 254.3248 102.7090 13.85675643150739

Epoch: 2025-04-24T16:33Z

Definitive object data (Epoch: 2025-04-24T16:33:31.179Z)

Latitude

-0.00002°

Longitude

110.90311°

Altitude

994.224 km

Speed

7.331 km/s

True Right ascension

14h 08m 57s

True Declination

0° 00' 00"

Sunlit

Object was in full shadow at TLE epoch

Visualization TLE readout

Latitude

-50.12831°

Longitude

-4.37974°

Altitude

759.156 km

Speed

7.577 km/s

Apparent Right ascension

09h 06m 49s

Apparent Declination

-51° 58' 23"

Sunlit

Object is in daylight

Visualization observer readout

Local Sidereal Time

23:33:49

Azimuth

127.95° SE

Elevation

-62.134°

Doppler factor

Orbital elements

Apogee altitude

1,146.194 km

Perigee altitude

742.289 km

Semi-major axis

7,322.379 km

Eccentricity

0.0275802

Inclination

52.0032°

RAAN

212.2408°

Arg. of periapsis

254.3248°

True anomaly

105.76736°

Mean anomaly

102.709°

Eccentric anomaly

104.24067°

Mean motion

3.4639 °/min

BSTAR

0.00016513

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.
10 mins	2025-04-25 17:23:33.483Z	288.558° WNW	2025-04-25 17:28:33.483Z	241.142° WSW	25.212°	2025-04-25 17:33:33.483Z	183.325° SSW
5 mins	2025-04-26 06:47:33.483Z	137.4° SSE	2025-04-26 06:49:33.483Z	118.907° SE	14.197°	2025-04-26 06:52:33.483Z	92.826° ESE
12 mins	2025-04-26 08:31:33.483Z	213.757° SW	2025-04-26 08:37:33.483Z	118.941° SE	42.131°	2025-04-26 08:43:33.483Z	57.457° ENE
12 mins	2025-04-26 10:20:33.483Z	266.545° W	2025-04-26 10:26:33.483Z	340.281° N	36.251°	2025-04-26 10:32:33.483Z	46.056° ENE
11 mins	2025-04-26 12:11:33.483Z	303.972° NW	2025-04-26 12:16:33.483Z	356.225° N	27.68°	2025-04-26 12:22:33.483Z	57.109° ENE
12 mins	2025-04-26 14:01:33.483Z	316.116° NNW	2025-04-26 14:07:33.483Z	30.93° NE	34.151°	2025-04-26 14:13:33.483Z	91.445° ESE
12 mins	2025-04-26 15:50:33.483Z	304.164° NW	2025-04-26 15:56:33.483Z	210.394° SW	43.877°	2025-04-26 16:02:33.483Z	139.13° SSE

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.