SEASAT 1

SEASAT 1 is an active satellite operated by United States, launched on 1978-06-27 from Vandenberg SFB, California. With over 48 years in orbit, it has far exceeded many satellites’ design lifetimes. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 737 km and 739 km with an inclination of 108.0°. It travels at approximately 26,957 km/h (7.49 km/s), completing one full orbit every 100 minutes — that’s roughly 14.46 orbits per day. Its near-circular orbit (eccentricity close to zero) means it maintains a very consistent altitude throughout each revolution. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~25–100 years. Orbital Radar tracks SEASAT 1 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

SEASAT 1 orbits at an average altitude of 738 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 SEASAT 1’s average altitude, there are currently 363 active payloads and 1,878 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include TERRA, LANDSAT 9. With an inclination of 108.0°, SEASAT 1 passes over latitudes between 108.0°N and 108.0°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. United States operates approximately 12,339 active satellites in total, of which 146 share a similar altitude band with SEASAT 1.