INTELSAT 33E DEB

INTELSAT 33E DEB is a tracked piece of space debris attributed to ITSO, launched on 2016-08-24 from Guiana Space Centre, Kourou. After 10 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) at altitudes between 35,803 km and 36,222 km with an inclination of 1.5°. It travels at approximately 11,040 km/h (3.07 km/s), completing one full orbit every ~24 hours (geosynchronous) — that’s roughly 0.99 orbits per day. It is part of the Intelsat constellation group. At geostationary altitude, there is no meaningful atmospheric drag — this object will remain in orbit indefinitely unless actively deorbited. As orbital debris, INTELSAT 33E DEB poses a potential collision risk to operational satellites in nearby orbits and is continuously monitored by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network and other tracking systems.

INTELSAT 33E DEB occupies geostationary orbit at approximately 35,786 km above the equator, where its orbital period matches the Earth’s 24-hour rotation. From the ground, it appears to hover over a fixed point — ideal for broadcast television, weather monitoring and wideband communications. With an inclination of 1.5°, it traces a small figure-of-eight pattern relative to the equator rather than remaining perfectly stationary, which can indicate aging stationkeeping fuel or a deliberate inclined-orbit strategy. Within ±50 km of INTELSAT 33E DEB’s average altitude, there are currently 61 active payloads and 30 tracked debris or rocket body fragments. ITSO operates approximately 72 active satellites in total, of which 7 share a similar altitude band with INTELSAT 33E DEB.