SWIFT

SWIFT is an active satellite operated by Goddard Space Flight Center/Penn State University (United States), launched on 2004-11-20 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, United States on the Swift GRB Explorer launch. With over 22 years in orbit, it has far exceeded many satellites’ design lifetimes. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 225 km and 231 km with an inclination of 20.6°. It travels at approximately 27,979 km/h (7.77 km/s), completing one full orbit every 89 minutes — that’s roughly 16.20 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 weeks to months. Orbital Radar tracks SWIFT in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

SWIFT orbits at an average altitude of 228 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 SWIFT’s average altitude, there are currently 55 active payloads and 5 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include STARLINK-1209, STARLINK-1212, STARLINK-1267. This is a relatively sparse altitude band, containing less than 1% of all active satellites. With an inclination of 20.6°, SWIFT passes over latitudes between 20.6°N and 20.6°S, covering the tropical and temperate zones where most of the world’s population resides. Low-to-mid inclination orbits are efficient to reach from equatorial and mid-latitude launch sites. United States operates approximately 13,340 active satellites in total, of which 46 share a similar altitude band with SWIFT.