SECOR 1B

SECOR 1B is an active satellite operated by USA ACE / GIMRADA (United States), launched on 1964-01-11 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, United States on the POPPY 3/HAYLOFT launch. After more than 62 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 898 km and 923 km with an inclination of 69.9°. It travels at approximately 26,636 km/h (7.40 km/s), completing one full orbit every 103 minutes — that’s roughly 13.95 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~100–500 years. Orbital Radar tracks SECOR 1B in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

SECOR 1B orbits at an average altitude of 911 km in the upper LEO band, where atmospheric drag is negligible and objects can persist for centuries to millennia. This altitude is used by broadband constellations like OneWeb and by scientific missions requiring stable orbits far from the densest debris bands. Within ±50 km of SECOR 1B’s average altitude, there are currently 311 active payloads and 1,498 tracked debris or rocket body fragments. With an inclination of 69.9°, SECOR 1B passes over latitudes between 69.9°N and 69.9°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 13,279 active satellites in total, of which 153 share a similar altitude band with SECOR 1B.