OPS 3662 (VELA 3)

OPS 3662 (VELA 3) is an active satellite operated by USAF SSD (United States), launched on 1964-07-17 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, United States on the Vela 2A launch. After more than 62 years in orbit, it is one of the longest-surviving objects in the space catalogue. It orbits in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at altitudes between 43,472 km and 163,023 km with an inclination of 53.3°. It travels at approximately 6,865 km/h (1.91 km/s), completing one full orbit every 100.3 hours — that’s roughly 0.24 orbits per day. Its orbital eccentricity of 0.5453 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 OPS 3662 (VELA 3) in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

OPS 3662 (VELA 3) orbits at an average altitude of 103,248 km in Medium Earth Orbit, the region between LEO and GEO (2,000–35,786 km). MEO’s higher altitude gives each satellite a much larger ground footprint than LEO, meaning fewer spacecraft are needed for global coverage — but signal latency is higher and radiation from the Van Allen belts is a significant design constraint. With an inclination of 53.3°, OPS 3662 (VELA 3) passes over latitudes between 53.3°N and 53.3°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.