In orbitRocket body

OPTUS A1 R/B [PAM-D]

NORAD: 15996
COSPAR: 1985-076E

OrbitalWiki publishes live orbits for active satellites only. This object is in the full catalogue: who launched it, what it is and its last published orbit are below, but there are no current orbital elements for it here.

Spacecraft

Built by: Thiokol-Elkton
Owner: Aussat Pty, Australia
Platform (bus): Star 48
Mass at launch: 2,296 kg
Dry mass: 132 kg
Total mass with attached parts: 132 kg
Length: 2.3 m
Diameter: 1.2 m
Span with arrays and booms: 2.3 m
Shape: Sphere + Cone

From GCAT by Jonathan McDowell (CC BY 4.0), record S15996, checked 2026-11-05. About this source

Launch

Launch date: 1985-08-27
Rocket: Space Shuttle
Flight: Leasat Rescue/PAM-D
Mission name: OV-103 PAM deploy/Rend
Launch site: NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, LC39A
Launched by: JSC/MSFC
Rocket performance: Success
Launch designator: 1985-076

From the GCAT launch log, launch 1985-076, checked 2026-11-05. About this source

Catalogue record

Object type: Rocket body
Owner code: US
Launch date: 1985-08-27
Period: 602.2 min
Inclination: 25.77°
Apogee: 34,078 km
Perigee: 412 km
Radar cross-section: 2.7441 m²

From CelesTrak SATCAT, checked 2026-11-05. About this source

Where it came from

Catalogued pieces that came from it: 1

Everything from this launch

Debris1 in total, 0 still in orbit
Payload4 in total, 3 still in orbit
Rocket body3 in total, 3 still in orbit