SYNCOM 1

SYNCOM 1 is an active satellite operated by GSFC (United States), launched on 1963-02-14 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, United States on the Syncom 1 launch. After more than 63 years in orbit, it is one of the longest-surviving objects in the space catalogue. It orbits in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at altitudes between 28,692 km and 34,863 km with an inclination of 26.4°. It travels at approximately 11,637 km/h (3.23 km/s), completing one full orbit every 20 hours 36 minutes — that’s roughly 1.16 orbits per day. Orbital Radar tracks SYNCOM 1 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

SYNCOM 1 orbits at an average altitude of 31,778 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. With an inclination of 26.4°, SYNCOM 1 passes over latitudes between 26.4°N and 26.4°S, covering the tropical and temperate zones where most of the world’s population resides. Low-to-mid inclination orbits are efficient to reach from equatorial and mid-latitude launch sites. United States operates approximately 13,279 active satellites in total.