Mission type OSCAR COSPAR ID 1990-005B Launch site Kourou ELA-2 Inclination 98° Launch date 22 January 1990 Regime Sun-synchronous orbit | Operator University of Surrey SATCAT no. 20437 Reference system Geocentric Inclination 98° Rocket Ariane 4 | |
Manufacturer Surrey Satellite Technology Similar UoSAT‑1, UoSAT‑2, UoSAT‑12, Dove‑OSCAR 17, PoSAT‑1 | ||
UoSAT-3, also known as UO-14 and OSCAR-14, is a British satellite in Low Earth Orbit. It was built by a spin-off company of the University of Surrey, Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) and launched in January 1990 from French Guiana. The satellite functioned as one of a series of OSCAR satellite in orbit around the Earth, as well as observing Earth and performing scientific experiments.
UoSAT-3 was launched on the same rocket as its sister satellite, UoSAT-4.
Current Status
UoSAT-3 exceeded its expected operational life by 3 years and ceased active service in 1999. However, amateur radio enthusiasts managed to track the satellite for a certain amount of time afterwards via the satellite's FM voice transponder.
The satellite, which is now non-operational, forms a part of the growing amounts of space debris orbiting around the Earth. The payload will decay in the Earth's atmosphere some time in the future.