GLOBALSTAR M098

GLOBALSTAR M098 is an active satellite operated by Globalstar (United States), launched on 2026-08-16 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, United States on the Globalstar 2R-1 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 676 km and 691 km with an inclination of 52.0°. It travels at approximately 27,061 km/h (7.52 km/s), completing one full orbit every 98 minutes — that’s roughly 14.63 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~10–25 years. Orbital Radar tracks GLOBALSTAR M098 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

GLOBALSTAR M098 orbits at an average altitude of 684 km in the mid-LEO band, where atmospheric drag is minimal but radiation exposure remains manageable. Objects at this altitude persist for decades to centuries, making debris mitigation critical. This regime is popular for remote sensing constellations and scientific instruments that need stable, long-duration orbits. Within ±50 km of GLOBALSTAR M098’s average altitude, there are currently 337 active payloads and 1,406 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include TERRA, AQUA, ONEWEB-0179. With an inclination of 52.0°, GLOBALSTAR M098 passes over latitudes between 52.0°N and 52.0°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. United States operates approximately 13,224 active satellites in total, of which 92 share a similar altitude band with GLOBALSTAR M098.