Copernicus / Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 spacecraft
Copernicus, or OAO-3, was a collaborative NASA–UK space observatory launched in 1972 with a major ultraviolet telescope and X-ray instruments, returning astronomical observations through 1981.
Follow this vehicle family
Alerts for directly linked future launches and major activity.
Identity
- Aliases
- CopernicusOAO-3OAO COrbiting Astronomical Observatory 3
- Family Name
- Copernicus (OAO-3)
- Full Name
- Copernicus / Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 3 spacecraft
- Roles
- orbiterobservatory
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- Copernicus, or OAO-3, was a collaborative NASA–UK space observatory launched in 1972 with a major ultraviolet telescope and X-ray instruments, returning astronomical observations through 1981.
- First Flight Year
- 1,972
- Last Flight Year
- 1,981
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 13, 2026 at 17:02:08 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 13, 2026 at 17:02:08 UTC