AEROCUBE 5C

AEROCUBE 5C is an active satellite operated by Aerospace Corporation (United States), launched on 2015-10-08 from Vandenberg SFB, California. After 11 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 505 km and 789 km with an inclination of 64.8°. It travels at approximately 27,131 km/h (7.54 km/s), completing one full orbit every 98 minutes — that’s roughly 14.91 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~10–25 years. Orbital Radar tracks AEROCUBE 5C in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

AEROCUBE 5C orbits at an average altitude of 647 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 AEROCUBE 5C’s average altitude, there are currently 691 active payloads and 1,006 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include TERRA, AQUA, ONEWEB-0050. With an inclination of 64.8°, AEROCUBE 5C passes over latitudes between 64.8°N and 64.8°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 303 share a similar altitude band with AEROCUBE 5C.