KUIPER-00453
NORAD 68947
Payload
LEO
2026-098AE
● Active
CONNECTING…
LEO · NORAD 68947
NOW PASSING OVER
Calculating position…
—
Altitude (km)
—
Speed (km/s)
—
Latitude
—
Longitude
🛰️ Orbital Parameters
Perigee
453 km
Apogee
457 km
Inclination
51.9°
Period
93.7 min
Mean Motion
15.36991349 rev/day
TLE Epoch
2026-06-20 03:00:00 UTC
📐 Computed Orbital Characteristics
Avg. Altitude455 km
Orbital Velocity27,510 km/h
Velocity7.64 km/s
Orbital Period94 minutes
Orbits / Day15.37
Eccentricity0.0003
Semi-Major Axis6,826 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
2026-098AE
Object Type
Payload
RCS Size
Large (>1 m²)
🔗 Constellation / Groups
kuiper
📖 About This Object
KUIPER-00453 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 453 km and 457 km with an inclination of 51.9°. It travels at approximately 27,510 km/h (7.64 km/s), completing one full orbit every 94 minutes — that’s roughly 15.37 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-00453 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-00453 orbits at an average altitude of 455 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-00453’s average altitude, there are currently 7,842 active payloads and 167 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include STARLINK-1008, STARLINK-1012, STARLINK-1017. This makes it one of the more crowded altitude bands, containing roughly 45% of all active satellites. With an inclination of 51.9°, KUIPER-00453 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 7,390 share a similar altitude band with KUIPER-00453.
🔗 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-00453 orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 453 km (perigee) and 457 km (apogee), with an average altitude of approximately 455 km. It completes one orbit every 94 minutes, travelling at approximately 27,510 km/h (17,094 mph).
KUIPER-00453 is operated by Amazon (United States). It is catalogued by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network under NORAD ID 68947. You can track KUIPER-00453 in real time on Orbital Radar’s live tracker or browse all operators in the operator directory.
KUIPER-00453 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-00453 (NORAD ID 68947) 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-00453 travels at approximately 27,510 km/h (17,094 mph) — roughly 7.64 km/s. It completes 15.37 orbits per day, meaning the crew or instruments aboard (if any) would experience approximately 31 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.
KUIPER-00453 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.