RASSVET-3 26

RASSVET-3 26 is an active satellite operated by Russia (CIS), launched on 2026-07-19 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia on the Rassvet-3 G2 launch. As a relatively recent addition to the catalogue, its orbital elements are well-characterised. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 289 km and 307 km with an inclination of 82.3°. It travels at approximately 27,832 km/h (7.73 km/s), completing one full orbit every 90 minutes — that’s roughly 15.92 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is weeks to months. Orbital Radar tracks RASSVET-3 26 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

RASSVET-3 26 orbits at an average altitude of 298 km in the lower reaches of Low Earth Orbit, where atmospheric drag is significant and orbital lifetimes are measured in months to a few years. This is the busiest corridor in space — home to crewed spacecraft, rapid-revisit imaging satellites and the densest part of the Starlink constellation. Within ±50 km of RASSVET-3 26’s average altitude, there are currently 382 active payloads and 18 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include STARLINK-1036, STARLINK-1048, STARLINK-1068. With an inclination of 82.3°, RASSVET-3 26 passes over latitudes between 82.3°N and 82.3°S, providing near-global coverage including the polar regions. Polar and near-polar orbits are used for reconnaissance, weather monitoring and Earth-observation missions that need to image every part of the planet. Russia (CIS) operates approximately 1,271 active satellites in total, of which 16 share a similar altitude band with RASSVET-3 26.