Amateur satellite Oscar 7 still operational after 50 years.

[jwt873]

Oscar 7 celebrated it's 50th anniversary November 15, 2024. It's the oldest operating satellite, (commercial or amateur). It even precedes the Voyager satellites by three years. A credit to the hams that built it half a century ago..

AMSAT AO-7…A Fifty Year Anniversary! – AMSAT

 

[K4EET]

That satellite was launched the same year that I got my ham license. Happy 50th Anniversary AO-7!!! 🎆🥂🎆🎉

 

[BinaryMode]

I had no idea the Oscar satellites were that old. Pretty amazing when you think of it. Damn, how did the electronics last that long? I mean, I know gamer's who've had motherboard Caps go bust in only a decade or shorter. Also, isn't there some kind of solid propellant inside to help it stay on course? Wouldn't that have run out by now? Or is about to?

Edit-

Interesting reading: AMSAT-OSCAR 7 - Wikipedia

Here's where AO-7 was on the exact date and time when launched on 15 November 1974, 17:11 UTC of the 50th anniversary.

 

[jwt873]

That satellite was launched the same year that I got my ham license. Happy 50th Anniversary AO-7!!! 🎆🥂🎆🎉

Same here.. Boy. time flies

 

[jwt873]

I had no idea the Oscar satellites were that old. Pretty amazing when you think of it. Damn, how did the electronics last that long? I mean, I know gamer's who've had motherboard Caps go bust in only a decade or shorter. Also, isn't there some kind of solid propellant inside to help it stay on course? Wouldn't that have run out by now? Or is about to?

Edit-

Interesting reading: AMSAT-OSCAR 7 - Wikipedia

Here's where AO-7 was on the exact date and time when launched on 15 November 1974, 17:11 UTC of the 50th anniversary.

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For what it's worth, the ham satellite program goes back a lot further than AO-7. The very first hamsat, Oscar One, was launched December 12, 1961