TACSAT 6

TACSAT 6 is an active satellite operated by Operational Responsive Space (ORS) Office (United States), launched on 2013-12-06 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, United States on the TOPAZ 3 launch. After 13 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 253 km and 273 km with an inclination of 120.4°. It travels at approximately 27,905 km/h (7.75 km/s), completing one full orbit every 90 minutes — that’s roughly 16.13 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is weeks to months. Orbital Radar tracks TACSAT 6 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

TACSAT 6 orbits at an average altitude of 263 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 TACSAT 6’s average altitude, there are currently 103 active payloads and 10 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include STARLINK-1036, STARLINK-1067, STARLINK-1068. With an inclination of 120.4°, TACSAT 6 passes over latitudes between 120.4°N and 120.4°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. United States operates approximately 13,204 active satellites in total, of which 77 share a similar altitude band with TACSAT 6.