XMM

XMM is an active satellite operated by European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) (ESA (European Space Agency)), launched on 1999-12-10 from Guiana Space Centre, Kourou. With over 27 years in orbit, it has far exceeded many satellites’ design lifetimes. It orbits in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at altitudes between 29,279 km and 91,844 km with an inclination of 64.5°. It travels at approximately 8,785 km/h (2.44 km/s), completing one full orbit every 47.9 hours — that’s roughly 0.50 orbits per day. Its orbital eccentricity of 0.4674 gives it a noticeably elliptical path, with significant altitude variation between perigee and apogee. At geostationary altitude, there is no meaningful atmospheric drag — this object will remain in orbit indefinitely unless actively deorbited. Orbital Radar tracks XMM in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

XMM orbits at an average altitude of 60,562 km in Medium Earth Orbit, the region between LEO and GEO (2,000–35,786 km). MEO’s higher altitude gives each satellite a much larger ground footprint than LEO, meaning fewer spacecraft are needed for global coverage — but signal latency is higher and radiation from the Van Allen belts is a significant design constraint. With an inclination of 64.5°, XMM passes over latitudes between 64.5°N and 64.5°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. ESA (European Space Agency) operates approximately 93 active satellites in total.