COSMOS 971
NORAD 10536
Payload
LEO
1977-122A
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LEO · NORAD 10536
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🛰️ Orbital Parameters
Perigee
971 km
Apogee
1004 km
Inclination
82.9°
Period
104.8 min
Mean Motion
13.73426045 rev/day
TLE Epoch
2026-05-08 20:00:00 UTC
📐 Computed Orbital Characteristics
Avg. Altitude988 km
Orbital Velocity26,496 km/h
Velocity7.36 km/s
Orbital Period105 minutes
Orbits / Day13.73
Eccentricity0.0022
Semi-Major Axis7,359 km
Est. Orbital Lifetime~100–500 years
🚀 Launch & Identity
Country / Operator
🇷🇺 Russia (CIS)
Launch Date
1977-12-23
Launch Site
PKMTR
Int'l Designator
1977-122A
Object Type
Payload
RCS Size
Large (>1 m²)
📖 About This Object
COSMOS 971 is an active satellite operated by Russia (CIS), launched on 1977-12-23 from PKMTR. With over 49 years in orbit, it has far exceeded many satellites’ design lifetimes. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 971 km and 1,004 km with an inclination of 82.9°. It travels at approximately 26,496 km/h (7.36 km/s), completing one full orbit every 105 minutes — that’s roughly 13.73 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~100–500 years. Orbital Radar tracks COSMOS 971 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 971 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 971 orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 971 km (perigee) and 1,004 km (apogee), with an average altitude of approximately 988 km. It completes one orbit every 105 minutes, travelling at approximately 26,496 km/h (16,464 mph).
COSMOS 971 is operated by Russia (CIS). It is catalogued by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network under NORAD ID 10536. You can track COSMOS 971 in real time on Orbital Radar’s live tracker.
COSMOS 971 was launched on 1977-12-23 from PKMTR. At its current altitude, the estimated remaining orbital lifetime is: ~100–500 years.
Yes — Orbital Radar tracks COSMOS 971 (NORAD ID 10536) 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 971 travels at approximately 26,496 km/h (16,464 mph) — roughly 7.36 km/s. It completes 13.73 orbits per day, meaning the crew or instruments aboard (if any) would experience approximately 27 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.