OPS 5118 (NAVSTAR 6)
NORAD 11783
Payload
MEO
1980-032A
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🛰️ Orbital Parameters
Perigee
18478 km
Apogee
21382 km
Inclination
61.9°
Period
707.8 min
Mean Motion
2.03456274 rev/day
TLE Epoch
2026-05-03 06:00:00 UTC
📐 Computed Orbital Characteristics
Avg. Altitude19,930 km
Orbital Velocity14,015 km/h
Velocity3.89 km/s
Orbital Period11 hours 48 minutes
Orbits / Day2.03
Eccentricity0.0552
Semi-Major Axis26,301 km
Est. Orbital LifetimeEffectively permanent — above atmospheric drag
🚀 Launch & Identity
Country / Operator
🇺🇸 United States
Launch Date
1980-04-26
Launch Site
Vandenberg SFB, California
Int'l Designator
1980-032A
Object Type
Payload
RCS Size
Medium (0.1–1 m²)
🔗 Constellation / Groups
gps ops
📖 About This Object
OPS 5118 (NAVSTAR 6) is an active satellite operated by United States, launched on 1980-04-26 from Vandenberg SFB, California. With over 46 years in orbit, it has far exceeded many satellites’ design lifetimes. It orbits in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at altitudes between 18,478 km and 21,382 km with an inclination of 61.9°. It travels at approximately 14,015 km/h (3.89 km/s), completing one full orbit every 11 hours 48 minutes — that’s roughly 2.03 orbits per day. It is part of the Gps Ops constellation group. Orbital Radar tracks OPS 5118 (NAVSTAR 6) in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.
🌍 Orbit Context
OPS 5118 (NAVSTAR 6) operates in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), the region between LEO and GEO spanning roughly 2,000 to 35,786 km altitude. MEO is home to navigation constellations (GPS at ~20,200 km, Galileo at ~23,222 km, GLONASS at ~19,130 km) and some communications systems. The higher altitude gives each satellite a much larger ground footprint than LEO, meaning fewer satellites are needed for global coverage, but signal latency is higher and radiation exposure — particularly from the Van Allen belts — is a significant design challenge.
🔗 GPS Navigation Constellation
This satellite is part of the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), operated by the U.S. Space Force. GPS provides positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services to billions of users worldwide. The constellation maintains at least 24 operational satellites across six orbital planes at approximately 20,200 km altitude (MEO), with an orbital period of about 11 hours 58 minutes. Current-generation satellites include GPS III and GPS IIIF, which offer improved accuracy, anti-jamming capabilities and the new L5 civil signal.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
OPS 5118 (NAVSTAR 6) orbits in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at altitudes between 18,478 km (perigee) and 21,382 km (apogee), with an average altitude of approximately 19,930 km. It completes one orbit every 11 hours 48 minutes, travelling at approximately 14,015 km/h (8,708 mph).
OPS 5118 (NAVSTAR 6) is operated by United States. It is catalogued by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network under NORAD ID 11783. You can track OPS 5118 (NAVSTAR 6) in real time on Orbital Radar’s live tracker.
OPS 5118 (NAVSTAR 6) was launched on 1980-04-26 from Vandenberg SFB, California, primarily used for polar and sun-synchronous orbit launches due to its southward ocean trajectory from California.
Yes — Orbital Radar tracks OPS 5118 (NAVSTAR 6) (NORAD ID 11783) 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.
OPS 5118 (NAVSTAR 6) travels at approximately 14,015 km/h (8,708 mph) — roughly 3.89 km/s. It completes 2.03 orbits per day, meaning the crew or instruments aboard (if any) would experience approximately 4 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.
OPS 5118 (NAVSTAR 6) is a member of the Gps Ops constellation. Satellites in this group work together to provide coordinated coverage, typically in similar orbital planes at comparable altitudes. You can view all Gps Ops satellites on Orbital Radar’s live tracker.