USA 48

USA 48 is an active satellite operated by United States, launched on 1989-11-23 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. With over 37 years in orbit, it has far exceeded many satellites’ design lifetimes. It orbits in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) at altitudes between 34,456 km and 36,854 km with an inclination of 17.0°. It travels at approximately 11,087 km/h (3.08 km/s), completing one full orbit every 23 hours 49 minutes — that’s roughly 1.01 orbits per day. It is part of the Geo Protected Plus constellation group. At geostationary altitude, there is no meaningful atmospheric drag — this object will remain in orbit indefinitely unless actively deorbited. Orbital Radar tracks USA 48 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

USA 48 occupies geostationary orbit (GEO) at approximately 35,786 km above the equator. At this precise altitude, the satellite’s orbital period matches the Earth’s rotation — so it appears to hover over a fixed point on the equator. GEO is used primarily for broadcast television, weather monitoring (Meteosat, GOES) and wideband communications. Only about 560 active satellites occupy the GEO belt, but its commercial value is immense: a single GEO slot can cover roughly one-third of the Earth’s surface. This satellite has a non-zero inclination of 17.0°, meaning it traces a small figure-of-eight pattern relative to the ground rather than remaining perfectly stationary. This can indicate an aging satellite whose stationkeeping fuel is running low, or a deliberate inclined-orbit strategy to extend operational life.