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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

13 hours 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 (63 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 13 hours ago

0 EXPLORER 16
1 00506U 62070A   25191.57806135 -.00000081  00000-0  43737-4 0  9997
2 00506  52.0020 280.8314 0276773 106.0227 257.1364 13.85696367161390

Epoch: 2025-07-10T13:52Z

TLE epoch observation values (Epoch: 2025-07-10T13:52:24.5Z)

Latitude

0.00003°

Longitude

143.987°

Altitude

994.873 km

Speed

7.33 km/s

True Right ascension

18h 43m 19s

True Declination

0° 00' 00"

Sunlit

Object was in full shadow at epoch

Visualization orbit readout

Latitude

-24.30865°

Longitude

-17.531°

Altitude

993.392 km

Speed

7.334 km/s

Apparent Right ascension

06h 01m 32s

Apparent Declination

-36° 35' 45"

Sunlit

Object is in daylight

Visualization observer readout

Local Sidereal Time

15:15:13

Azimuth

262.317° W

Elevation

-57.476°

Doppler factor

Orbital elements

Apogee altitude

1,146.83 km

Perigee altitude

741.507 km

Semi-major axis

7,322.306 km

Eccentricity

0.02768

Inclination

52.002°

RAAN

280.8314°

Arg. of periapsis

106.0227°

True anomaly

Unknown

Mean anomaly

257.1364°

Eccentric anomaly

Unknown

Mean motion

3.46395 °/min

Orbital period

103.93 mins

BSTAR

0.000043737

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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.
8 mins	2025-07-11 07:18:34.884Z	177.444° S	2025-07-11 07:22:34.884Z	133.65° SE	21.658°	2025-07-11 07:26:34.884Z	82.36° E
9 mins	2025-07-11 09:06:34.884Z	239.22° WSW	2025-07-11 09:10:34.884Z	280.108° WNW	43.322°	2025-07-11 09:15:34.884Z	48.867° ENE
6 mins	2025-07-11 10:57:34.884Z	302.845° NW	2025-07-11 11:00:34.884Z	351.588° N	24.041°	2025-07-11 11:03:34.884Z	34.097° NE
6 mins	2025-07-11 12:47:34.884Z	330.733° NNW	2025-07-11 12:49:34.884Z	359.66° N	20.812°	2025-07-11 12:53:34.884Z	55.948° ENE
8 mins	2025-07-11 14:35:34.884Z	318.851° NNW	2025-07-11 14:39:34.884Z	33.795° NE	37.39°	2025-07-11 14:43:34.884Z	102.608° ESE
8 mins	2025-07-11 16:24:34.884Z	283.054° WNW	2025-07-11 16:27:34.884Z	233.445° WSW	29.592°	2025-07-11 16:32:34.884Z	163.845° S

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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.