NASA's first-ever OGO satellite set to return after 56 years, here's all you need to know

NASA recently found out that its first craft launched in Orbiting Geophysics Observatory (OGO) series back in 1964 will probably land on Earth over weekend. After University of Arizona’s Catalina Sky Survey (CSS), funded by NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) detected a very small object that appeared to be on impact trajectory to our planet, it was soon found out that “object was t an asteroid”. In fact, it was NASA’s very old scientific craft OGO-1. OGO-1 was launched back in September 1964 and was built at ncy’s  Goddard Flight Center. Its launch was followed by a series of five or missions, one in each year from 1964 to 1969 in a bid to understand home planet.

Ims of OGO-1 captured during asteroid survey operations on Tuesday, August 25 by University of Arizona’s Catalina Sky Survey, funded by NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office.
(Credits: Catalina Sky Survey/University of Arizona/NASA)

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What was purpose of OGO-1?

NASA has elaborated that OGO-1 was launched into an eccentric orbit around Earth that took craft at least two days to finish one orbit “ and allowed craft to sweep through Earth’s radiation belts to study our planet’s magnetosphere— region of surrounding Earth that is controlled by Earth’s magnetic field.”

NASA’s 56-year-old retired, first-ever OGO craft was launched to conduct diversified geophysical experiments that would help scientists in enhancing understanding of planet along with developing and operating a standardised observatory-type satellite. 

OGO-1 consisted of main body which was ‘parallelepipedal’ in its form, had two solar panels each having a solar-oriented experiment pack (SOEP). It also had two orbital plane experiment packs (OPEP) and six appends EP-1 through EP-6 supporting experiment packs.

NASA added, “During September 1964, acceptable data were received over 70% of orbital path. By June 1969, data acquisition was limited to 10% of orbital path.”

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First to launch in OGO series, last to return

refore, craft was operated and was able to return data only for five years until vember 25, 1969, after which it was placed on a standby mode as scientists were unable to return any more information. All support for mission was formally suspended in 1971. Even though OGO-1 was first craft in series to leave planet, it will be last one to return to Earth and it has been expected that it has entered Earth's atmosphere on August 29. All or five satellites have decayed from orbit and safely made ir landing on planet.

“ craft will break up in atmosphere and poses threat to our planet—or anyone on it—and this is a rmal final operational occurrence for retired craft,” NASA said.   

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