AUREOLE 2

AUREOLE 2 is an active satellite operated by MOM / CNES (France), launched on 1973-12-26 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia on the DS-U2-GKA No. 2 launch. After more than 53 years in orbit, it is one of the longest-surviving objects in the space catalogue. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 216 km and 255 km with an inclination of 73.9°. It travels at approximately 27,963 km/h (7.77 km/s), completing one full orbit every 89 minutes — that’s roughly 16.16 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is weeks to months. Orbital Radar tracks AUREOLE 2 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

AUREOLE 2 orbits at an average altitude of 236 km in the lower reaches of Low Earth Orbit, where atmospheric drag is significant and orbital lifetimes are measured in months to a few years. This is the busiest corridor in space — home to crewed spacecraft, rapid-revisit imaging satellites and the densest part of the Starlink constellation. Within ±50 km of AUREOLE 2’s average altitude, there are currently 48 active payloads and 2 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include STARLINK-1036, STARLINK-1209, STARLINK-1267. This is a relatively sparse altitude band, containing less than 1% of all active satellites. With an inclination of 73.9°, AUREOLE 2 passes over latitudes between 73.9°N and 73.9°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. France operates approximately 124 active satellites in total.