# OSCAR 23

> navigation satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q111500799](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111500799)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/oscar-23

## Summary
OSCAR 23, also known as Transit-O 23, is a navigation satellite launched on April 26, 1988, as part of the Transit satellite system. It played a role in providing navigation data, primarily for maritime and military use, before the widespread adoption of GPS. The satellite is identified by COSPAR ID 1988-033A and SCN 19070.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: April 26, 1988.
- **COSPAR ID**: 1988-033A.
- **NSSDCA ID**: 1988-033A.
- **Aliases**: Transit-O 23, Transit O-23.
- **Part Of**: The Transit navigation satellite constellation.
- **SCN**: 19070.
- **Instance Of**: Navigation satellite.

## FAQs
### Q: When was OSCAR 23 launched?
A: OSCAR 23 was launched on April 26, 1988.

### Q: What system is OSCAR 23 part of?
A: It is part of the Transit navigation satellite system, which provided location data for maritime and military applications.

### Q: What are the identifiers for OSCAR 23?
A: Its primary identifiers are COSPAR ID 1988-033A, NSSDCA ID 1988-033A, and SCN 19070.

## Why It Matters
OSCAR 23 is significant as part of the Transit satellite system, one of the first operational navigation satellite constellations. These satellites enabled accurate positioning for naval and research vessels, laying foundational technology for modern GPS systems. While later superseded by GPS, the Transit system demonstrated the feasibility of satellite-based navigation, influencing later developments in global positioning technology. OSCAR 23’s launch in 1988 reflects its role in maintaining and upgrading navigation capabilities during the late Cold War era.

## Notable For
- **Part of the Transit Constellation**: Contributed to a system that provided critical navigation data for decades.
- **Late-Cold War Era Technology**: Represents advancements in satellite navigation during the 1980s.
- **Pre-GPS Navigation**: Operated as part of a precursor system to modern global positioning networks.

## Body
### Launch and Deployment
OSCAR 23 was launched on **April 26, 1988**, under the COSPAR ID **1988-033A** and NSSDCA ID **1988-033A**. It was assigned the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) **19070**.

### System Affiliation
The satellite was part of the **Transit** navigation system, a constellation designed to provide location data for maritime and military operations. Transit satellites used Doppler shift measurements to determine user positions.

### Technical Specifications
- **Aliases**: Designated as **Transit-O 23** or **Transit O-23**.
- **Primary Function**: Navigation support via satellite-based signals.
- **Operational Context**: Contributed to the broader Transit network, which operated from the 1960s to the 1990s.

### Mission Context
As a navigation satellite, OSCAR 23 supported users in calculating their precise geographic coordinates. The Transit system’s data was essential for naval navigation, scientific research, and early precision mapping efforts.

## References

1. SATCAT