GALILEO 16 (26C)

GALILEO 16 (26C) is an active satellite operated by European Space Agency (ESA) (ESA (European Space Agency)), launched on 2016-11-17 from Guiana Space Centre, Kourou. After 10 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at altitudes between 23,209 km and 23,236 km with an inclination of 55.5°. It travels at approximately 13,212 km/h (3.67 km/s), completing one full orbit every 14 hours 5 minutes — that’s roughly 1.70 orbits per day. It is part of the Galileo constellation group. Orbital Radar tracks GALILEO 16 (26C) in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

GALILEO 16 (26C) orbits at an average altitude of 23,223 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. Within ±50 km of GALILEO 16 (26C)’s average altitude, there are currently 30 active payloads and 3 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include GALILEO-PFM, GALILEO-FM2, GALILEO-FM3. This is a relatively sparse altitude band, containing less than 1% of all active satellites. With an inclination of 55.5°, GALILEO 16 (26C) passes over latitudes between 55.5°N and 55.5°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 93 active satellites in total, of which 30 share a similar altitude band with GALILEO 16 (26C).