# OSCAR 4

> Amateur radio satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q14174552](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14174552)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSCAR_4)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/oscar-4

## Summary
OSCAR 4 is an amateur radio satellite launched on December 21, 1965. It was deployed into orbit using a Titan IIIC launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41. The satellite serves as a platform for transmitting amateur radio signals.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Amateur radio satellite.
- **Launch Date:** December 21, 1965.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Titan IIIC.
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1965-108C.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 01902.
- **Significant Event:** Rocket launch (December 21, 1965).
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** `Entity["Satellite", "01902"]`.

## FAQs
### Q: What is OSCAR 4?
A: OSCAR 4 is a satellite designated for amateur radio use. It is an artificial object launched into orbit to facilitate the transmission of amateur radio signals.

### Q: When and how was OSCAR 4 launched?
A: OSCAR 4 was launched on December 21, 1965. It was delivered to space aboard a Titan IIIC rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41.

### Q: What distinguishes OSCAR 4 in satellite catalogs?
A: OSCAR 4 is officially tracked under the COSPAR ID 1965-108C and the Satellite Catalog Number 01902.

## Why It Matters
OSCAR 4 represents a specific footprint in the history of private and hobbyist space initiatives. As an amateur radio satellite, it functions within a category of spacecraft designed to be accessible to non-professional radio operators, democratizing access to space-based communication technologies. Launched in the mid-1960s, it exemplifies the early integration of civilian hobbyist projects with heavy-lift military and scientific launch infrastructure, evidenced by its deployment via the Titan IIIC.

The satellite's launch from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41—a significant site for U.S. space operations—places it within the historical timeline of the Space Race. The existence of OSCAR 4 highlights the collaborative potential between the amateur radio community and aerospace agencies, allowing for the utilization of orbit for educational and experimental communication purposes. Its persistence in databases such as Wikidata and Wolfram Language confirms its ongoing relevance as a recordable entity in the history of artificial satellites.

## Notable For
- **Amateur Radio Function:** Designed specifically as a satellite to transmit amateur radio frequencies.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Utilized the Titan IIIC, a notable model of the Titan III launch vehicle family.
- **Historical Launch Site:** Launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41.
- **1965 Launch:** Conducted during the early era of satellite communications in 1965.
- **Distinct Identifiers:** Carries the unique COSPAR ID 1965-108C and SCN 01902.

## Body

### Mission Overview
OSCAR 4 is designated as an amateur radio satellite. Its primary classification is an object orbiting the Earth intended for use by the amateur radio community.

### Launch Details
The satellite underwent a significant rocket launch event on December 21, 1965.
*   **Location:** The launch originated from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41.
*   **Vehicle:** The launch vehicle used to propel OSCAR 4 into space was the Titan IIIC.

### Technical Identifiers
OSCAR 4 is cataloged in multiple scientific and academic databases.
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1965-108C
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** 01902
*   **Wolfram Language Code:** `Entity["Satellite", "01902"]`

### Visual and Archival Records
An interior image of the satellite is available in the Wikimedia Commons repository, categorized under "OSCAR 4." The entity is described as an "Amateur radio satellite" in Wikidata and has sitelinks across various language domains including English, German, and Polish.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report