SWOT

SWOT is an active satellite operated by United States, launched on 2022-12-16 from Vandenberg SFB, California. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 893 km and 893 km with an inclination of 77.6°. It travels at approximately 26,668 km/h (7.41 km/s), completing one full orbit every 103 minutes — that’s roughly 14.00 orbits per day. Its near-circular orbit (eccentricity close to zero) means it maintains a very consistent altitude throughout each revolution. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~100–500 years. Orbital Radar tracks SWOT in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

SWOT orbits at an average altitude of 893 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 SWOT’s average altitude, there are currently 198 active payloads and 1,472 tracked debris or rocket body fragments. With an inclination of 77.6°, SWOT passes over latitudes between 77.6°N and 77.6°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 29 share a similar altitude band with SWOT.