SORAYA

SORAYA is an active satellite operated by Iran, launched on 2024-01-20 from SMTS. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 743 km and 756 km with an inclination of 64.5°. It travels at approximately 26,935 km/h (7.48 km/s), completing one full orbit every 100 minutes — that’s roughly 14.43 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 ~25–100 years. Orbital Radar tracks SORAYA in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

SORAYA orbits at an average altitude of 750 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 SORAYA’s average altitude, there are currently 356 active payloads and 1,941 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include LANDSAT 9. With an inclination of 64.5°, SORAYA passes over latitudes between 64.5°N and 64.5°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. Iran operates approximately 5 active satellites in total.