There is a single satellite launched by the US Navy in 1964 that is still in orbit, still transmitting, and still being used by amateur radio operators around the world — and nobody at the Navy has been in charge of it for decades
https://spacedaily.com/b-there-is-a-single-satellite-launched-by-the-us-navy-in-1964-that-is-still-in-orbit-still-transmitting-and-still-being-used-by-amateur-radio-operators-around-the-world-and-nobody-at-the-nav/
There is a single satellite launched by the US Navy in 1964 that is still in orbit, still transmitting, and still being used by amateur radio operators around the world — and nobody at the Navy has been in charge of it for decades

On December 28, 1964, a Thor-Able-Star rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and put a small US Navy satellite into a low polar orbit. The satellite was called Transit 5B-5. It weighed about 70 kilograms. It was part of the first satellite-based navigation system in human history — the predecessor to […]

Space Daily

@bud_t Thanks for posting this! I had not heard of Transit-5B-5 before.

Turns out I'd get a great pass this morning, and since I have the day off, I decided to see if I could receive it. Sure enough, it came in loud and clear on the IC-9100 using the 2m #satellite antenna.

136.650 MHz also an ACARS frequency and you can see ACARS packets on the waterfall.

I'll separately post an audio clip as Mastodon does not allow images and audio in the same post..ugh!

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#hamradio #AmateurRadio #hamr

@bud_t This is the audio clip that I recorded from Transit 5B-5 this morning during the 14:30 UTC pass using the IC-9100 in USB while tuning across the signal. I'm tuning across the upper sideband of the satellite's signal so you can hear both distinct signals you see on the waterfall. It corresponds to the images I posted earlier.

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#hamradio #AmateurRadio #hamr

@kr1st I wonder if it can be decoded?

@bud_t I think I read that someone already did, but I'm not sure

This article links to a video that I haven't watched yet, but seems to have some interesting and entertaining info.

https://www.rtl-sdr.com/investigating-the-transit-5b-5-e-5-satellite-the-oldest-satellite-still-transmitting/

Investigating the Transit 5B-5/E-5 Satellite: The oldest satellite still transmitting

Transit 5B-5 is a US Navy navigation satellite that was an early version of the GPS/GNSS system we enjoy today. It was launched in 1964 and has been transmitting continuously for roughly 60 years. Unlike many dead satellites that only emit a carrier tone, this one still broadcasts modulated telemetry on about 136.65 MHz, making it a fascinating target for amateur radio and SDR hobbyists. Over on YouTube dereksgc has uploaded a video that is a deep dive into the Transit satellites, and tries to unravel the convoluted naming scheme. In the video, dereksgc digs into historical documents and compares

rtl-sdr.com
@kr1st that is so cool! I had never heard of it either