GALILEO-FM4

GALILEO-FM4 is an active satellite operated by European Space Agency (ESA) (ESA (European Space Agency)), launched on 2012-10-12 from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana on the Galileo FM3 launch. After 14 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at altitudes between 23,932 km and 23,936 km with an inclination of 55.3°. It travels at approximately 13,056 km/h (3.63 km/s), completing one full orbit every 14 hours 35 minutes — that’s roughly 1.65 orbits per day. It is part of the Galileo constellation group. Orbital Radar tracks GALILEO-FM4 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

GALILEO-FM4 orbits at an average altitude of 23,934 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 55.3°, GALILEO-FM4 passes over latitudes between 55.3°N and 55.3°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 95 active satellites in total.