ORBCOMM FM 38

ORBCOMM FM 38 is an active satellite operated by ORBCOMM (ORBCOMM), launched on 2008-06-19 from KYMTR. After 18 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 616 km and 623 km with an inclination of 48.4°. It travels at approximately 27,184 km/h (7.55 km/s), completing one full orbit every 97 minutes — that’s roughly 14.83 orbits per day. Its near-circular orbit (eccentricity close to zero) means it maintains a very consistent altitude throughout each revolution. It is part of the Orbcomm constellation group. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~10–25 years. Orbital Radar tracks ORBCOMM FM 38 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

ORBCOMM FM 38 orbits at an average altitude of 620 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 ORBCOMM FM 38’s average altitude, there are currently 1,540 active payloads and 771 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include ONEWEB-0050, STARLINK-3090, STARLINK-3077. This makes it one of the more crowded altitude bands, containing roughly 8.8% of all active satellites. With an inclination of 48.4°, ORBCOMM FM 38 passes over latitudes between 48.4°N and 48.4°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. ORBCOMM operates approximately 58 active satellites in total, of which 10 share a similar altitude band with ORBCOMM FM 38.