AEROCUBE 4.5A

AEROCUBE 4.5A is an active satellite operated by United States, launched on 2012-09-13 from Vandenberg SFB, California. After 14 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 270 km and 296 km with an inclination of 64.6°. It travels at approximately 27,863 km/h (7.74 km/s), completing one full orbit every 90 minutes — that’s roughly 15.98 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is weeks to months. Orbital Radar tracks AEROCUBE 4.5A in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

AEROCUBE 4.5A orbits at an average altitude of 283 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 AEROCUBE 4.5A’s average altitude, there are currently 286 active payloads and 8 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include STARLINK-1151, STARLINK-1143, STARLINK-1279. With an inclination of 64.6°, AEROCUBE 4.5A passes over latitudes between 64.6°N and 64.6°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 12,339 active satellites in total, of which 255 share a similar altitude band with AEROCUBE 4.5A.