COSMOS 970
NORAD 10531
Payload
LEO
1977-121A
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🛰️ Orbital Parameters
Perigee
924 km
Apogee
1148 km
Inclination
65.8°
Period
105.9 min
Mean Motion
13.59866649 rev/day
TLE Epoch
2026-05-08 18:00:00 UTC
📐 Computed Orbital Characteristics
Avg. Altitude1,036 km
Orbital Velocity26,409 km/h
Velocity7.34 km/s
Orbital Period106 minutes
Orbits / Day13.60
Eccentricity0.0151
Semi-Major Axis7,407 km
Est. Orbital Lifetime~500–1,000 years
🚀 Launch & Identity
Country / Operator
🇷🇺 Russia (CIS)
Launch Date
1977-12-21
Launch Site
Baikonur, Kazakhstan
Int'l Designator
1977-121A
Object Type
Payload
RCS Size
Large (>1 m²)
📖 About This Object
COSMOS 970 is an active satellite operated by Russia (CIS), launched on 1977-12-21 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. With over 49 years in orbit, it has far exceeded many satellites’ design lifetimes. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 924 km and 1,148 km with an inclination of 65.8°. It travels at approximately 26,409 km/h (7.34 km/s), completing one full orbit every 106 minutes — that’s roughly 13.60 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~500–1,000 years. Orbital Radar tracks COSMOS 970 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.
🌍 Orbit Context
COSMOS 970 occupies the mid-LEO band between 600 and 1,000 km, where atmospheric drag is minimal but radiation exposure remains low. This altitude range balances orbital longevity (decades to centuries) with reasonable ground coverage, making it popular for remote sensing constellations, scientific instruments and weather satellites. Debris concerns are significant here because objects persist far longer than in lower orbits.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
COSMOS 970 orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 924 km (perigee) and 1,148 km (apogee), with an average altitude of approximately 1,036 km. It completes one orbit every 106 minutes, travelling at approximately 26,409 km/h (16,410 mph).
COSMOS 970 is operated by Russia (CIS). It is catalogued by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network under NORAD ID 10531. You can track COSMOS 970 in real time on Orbital Radar’s live tracker.
COSMOS 970 was launched on 1977-12-21 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the world’s first and largest operational space launch facility, located in Kazakhstan. At its current altitude, the estimated remaining orbital lifetime is: ~500–1,000 years.
Yes — Orbital Radar tracks COSMOS 970 (NORAD ID 10531) 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.
COSMOS 970 travels at approximately 26,409 km/h (16,410 mph) — roughly 7.34 km/s. It completes 13.60 orbits per day, meaning the crew or instruments aboard (if any) would experience approximately 27 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.