PRAETORIAN SDA_606

PRAETORIAN SDA_606 is an active satellite operated by United States, launched on 2025-09-10 from Vandenberg SFB, California. As a relatively recent addition to the catalogue, its orbital elements are well-characterised. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 948 km and 956 km with an inclination of 81.3°. It travels at approximately 26,560 km/h (7.38 km/s), completing one full orbit every 104 minutes — that’s roughly 13.83 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 PRAETORIAN SDA_606 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

PRAETORIAN SDA_606 orbits at an average altitude of 952 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 PRAETORIAN SDA_606’s average altitude, there are currently 303 active payloads and 1,082 tracked debris or rocket body fragments. With an inclination of 81.3°, PRAETORIAN SDA_606 passes over latitudes between 81.3°N and 81.3°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 12,339 active satellites in total, of which 92 share a similar altitude band with PRAETORIAN SDA_606.