International Designator
alphanumerical designation used to identify spacecraft in or beyond Earth orbit launched since 1962
The International Designator (also called COSPAR ID) is a unique code given to objects launched into space. It consists of the launch year, a three-digit incrementing launch number of that year.[1] The system is named after the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR).[2] Before this system, Harvard University used Greek letters to name satellites, like Sputnik 1 was called 1957 Alpha 2.[3] The United States Space Command assigns these designators, and both the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and NASA’s National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) keep detailed catalogs of these objects.
References
change- ↑ Kelso, T.S. (January 1998). "Frequently Asked Questions: Two-Line Element Set Format". Satellite Times. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Designations". JSR Launch Vehicle Database. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- ↑ "Alpha Is Science's Tag For First of Satellites". The New York Times. November 25, 1957. p. 12.