BB 1

BB 1 is an active satellite operated by Space Development Agency (United States), launched on 2023-04-02 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, United States on the SDA-0A launch. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 787 km and 810 km with an inclination of 81.0°. It travels at approximately 26,843 km/h (7.46 km/s), completing one full orbit every 101 minutes — that’s roughly 14.33 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~25–100 years. Orbital Radar tracks BB 1 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

BB 1 orbits at an average altitude of 799 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 BB 1’s average altitude, there are currently 466 active payloads and 2,455 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include NOAA 20, ONEWEB-0455. With an inclination of 81.0°, BB 1 passes over latitudes between 81.0°N and 81.0°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 189 share a similar altitude band with BB 1.