BPA 3/SL-24

BPA 3/SL-24 is an active satellite operated by Ukraine, launched on 2013-11-21 from OREN. After 13 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 591 km and 1,604 km with an inclination of 97.7°. It travels at approximately 26,300 km/h (7.31 km/s), completing one full orbit every 107 minutes — that’s roughly 13.43 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~500–1,000 years. Orbital Radar tracks BPA 3/SL-24 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

BPA 3/SL-24 orbits at an average altitude of 1,098 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 BPA 3/SL-24’s average altitude, there are currently 174 active payloads and 382 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include ONEWEB-0041. With an inclination of 97.7°, BPA 3/SL-24 passes over latitudes between 97.7°N and 97.7°S, providing near-global coverage including the polar regions. Polar and near-polar orbits are used for reconnaissance, weather monitoring and Earth-observation missions that need to image every part of the planet. Ukraine operates approximately 4 active satellites in total.