GGSE 5

GGSE 5 is an active satellite operated by NRO / NRL (United States), launched on 1967-05-31 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, United States on the NRL PL160 launch. After more than 59 years in orbit, it is one of the longest-surviving objects in the space catalogue. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 903 km and 911 km with an inclination of 70.0°. It travels at approximately 26,642 km/h (7.40 km/s), completing one full orbit every 103 minutes — that’s roughly 13.96 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 ~100–500 years. Orbital Radar tracks GGSE 5 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

GGSE 5 orbits at an average altitude of 907 km in the upper LEO band, where atmospheric drag is negligible and objects can persist for centuries to millennia. This altitude is used by broadband constellations like OneWeb and by scientific missions requiring stable orbits far from the densest debris bands. Within ±50 km of GGSE 5’s average altitude, there are currently 309 active payloads and 1,561 tracked debris or rocket body fragments. With an inclination of 70.0°, GGSE 5 passes over latitudes between 70.0°N and 70.0°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 13,279 active satellites in total, of which 150 share a similar altitude band with GGSE 5.