CENTISPACE-2 S5

CENTISPACE-2 S5 is an active satellite operated by China, launched on 2026-03-22 from YSLA. As a relatively recent addition to the catalogue, its orbital elements are well-characterised. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 671 km and 686 km with an inclination of 55.0°. It travels at approximately 27,070 km/h (7.52 km/s), completing one full orbit every 98 minutes — that’s roughly 14.65 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~10–25 years. Orbital Radar tracks CENTISPACE-2 S5 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

CENTISPACE-2 S5 orbits at an average altitude of 679 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 CENTISPACE-2 S5’s average altitude, there are currently 518 active payloads and 1,268 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include TERRA, AQUA, LANDSAT 9. With an inclination of 55.0°, CENTISPACE-2 S5 passes over latitudes between 55.0°N and 55.0°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. China operates approximately 1,218 active satellites in total, of which 72 share a similar altitude band with CENTISPACE-2 S5.