SMILE

SMILE is an active satellite operated by ESA (European Space Agency), launched on 2026-05-19 from Guiana Space Centre, Kourou on the SMILE launch. As a relatively recent addition to the catalogue, its orbital elements are well-characterised. It orbits in Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) at altitudes between 5,702 km and 120,297 km with an inclination of 70.0°. It travels at approximately 8,629 km/h (2.40 km/s), completing one full orbit every 50.5 hours — that’s roughly 0.48 orbits per day. Its orbital eccentricity of 0.8260 gives it a noticeably elliptical path, with significant altitude variation between perigee and apogee. At geostationary altitude, there is no meaningful atmospheric drag — this object will remain in orbit indefinitely unless actively deorbited. Orbital Radar tracks SMILE in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

SMILE follows a Highly Elliptical Orbit, sweeping between 5,702 km (perigee) and 120,297 km (apogee). It spends most of its 50.5 hours orbital period near apogee, effectively loitering over a region of interest before rapidly sweeping through perigee — a profile used for high-latitude communications (Molniya orbits), early-warning systems and magnetospheric science. With an inclination of 70.0°, SMILE passes over latitudes between 70.0°N and 70.0°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. ESA (European Space Agency) operates approximately 84 active satellites in total.