KUIPER-00439
NORAD 68941
Payload
LEO
2026-098Y
● Active
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LEO · NORAD 68941
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Altitude (km)
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Speed (km/s)
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Latitude
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Longitude
🛰️ Orbital Parameters
Perigee
464 km
Apogee
473 km
Inclination
51.9°
Period
94.0 min
Mean Motion
15.32471793 rev/day
TLE Epoch
2026-06-20 00:00:00 UTC
📐 Computed Orbital Characteristics
Avg. Altitude469 km
Orbital Velocity27,483 km/h
Velocity7.63 km/s
Orbital Period94 minutes
Orbits / Day15.32
Eccentricity0.0007
Semi-Major Axis6,840 km
Est. Orbital Lifetime~1–3 years
🚀 Launch & Identity
Country / Operator
🇺🇸 Amazon (United States)
Launch Date
2026-04-30
Launch Site
Guiana Space Centre, Kourou
Int'l Designator
2026-098Y
Object Type
Payload
RCS Size
Large (>1 m²)
🔗 Constellation / Groups
kuiper
📖 About This Object
KUIPER-00439 is an active satellite operated by Amazon (United States), launched on 2026-04-30 from Guiana Space Centre, Kourou. As a relatively recent addition to the catalogue, its orbital elements are well-characterised. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 464 km and 473 km with an inclination of 51.9°. It travels at approximately 27,483 km/h (7.63 km/s), completing one full orbit every 94 minutes — that’s roughly 15.32 orbits per day. Its near-circular orbit (eccentricity close to zero) means it maintains a very consistent altitude throughout each revolution. It is part of the Kuiper constellation group. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~1–3 years. Orbital Radar tracks KUIPER-00439 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.
🌍 Orbit Context
KUIPER-00439 orbits at an average altitude of 469 km in the core of Low Earth Orbit, the most heavily utilised altitude band. The balance of moderate drag (limiting debris accumulation) and short signal path (enabling low-latency links and high-resolution imaging) makes this regime the default for most commercial and government missions. Within ±50 km of KUIPER-00439’s average altitude, there are currently 8,010 active payloads and 190 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include STARLINK-1017, STARLINK-1039, STARLINK-1047. This makes it one of the more crowded altitude bands, containing roughly 45.9% of all active satellites. With an inclination of 51.9°, KUIPER-00439 passes over latitudes between 51.9°N and 51.9°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. United States operates approximately 12,360 active satellites in total, of which 7,433 share a similar altitude band with KUIPER-00439.
🔗 Amazon Kuiper Constellation
This satellite is part of Amazon's Project Kuiper, a planned constellation of 3,236 LEO broadband satellites competing with SpaceX Starlink. Kuiper satellites operate at altitudes between 590–630 km and aim to provide global broadband connectivity. Amazon is deploying the constellation using multiple launch providers, including Blue Origin New Glenn and ULA Vulcan Centaur.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
KUIPER-00439 orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 464 km (perigee) and 473 km (apogee), with an average altitude of approximately 469 km. It completes one orbit every 94 minutes, travelling at approximately 27,483 km/h (17,077 mph).
KUIPER-00439 is operated by Amazon (United States). It is catalogued by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network under NORAD ID 68941. You can track KUIPER-00439 in real time on Orbital Radar’s live tracker or browse all operators in the operator directory.
KUIPER-00439 was launched on 2026-04-30 from Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, the European spaceport in French Guiana, chosen for its equatorial location which provides an energy-efficient boost for orbital insertions. At its current altitude, the estimated remaining orbital lifetime is: ~1–3 years. View the full satellite launch log.
Yes — Orbital Radar tracks KUIPER-00439 (NORAD ID 68941) using the latest TLE (two-line element set) data from Space-Track and CelesTrak. Open the live tracker to see its current position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated in real time. You can also browse the satellite directory to find other tracked objects.
KUIPER-00439 travels at approximately 27,483 km/h (17,077 mph) — roughly 7.63 km/s. It completes 15.32 orbits per day, meaning the crew or instruments aboard (if any) would experience approximately 31 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.
KUIPER-00439 is a member of the Kuiper constellation. Satellites in this group work together to provide coordinated coverage, typically in similar orbital planes at comparable altitudes. You can view all Kuiper satellites on Orbital Radar’s live tracker.