SAUDISAT 1C (SO-50)

SAUDISAT 1C (SO-50) is an active satellite operated by SAUD, launched on 2002-12-20 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. With over 24 years in orbit, it has far exceeded many satellites’ design lifetimes. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 568 km and 673 km with an inclination of 64.5°. It travels at approximately 27,182 km/h (7.55 km/s), completing one full orbit every 97 minutes — that’s roughly 14.83 orbits per day. It is part of the Amateur constellation group. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~10–25 years. Orbital Radar tracks SAUDISAT 1C (SO-50) in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

SAUDISAT 1C (SO-50) orbits in the most densely populated region of Low Earth Orbit, between roughly 300 and 600 km altitude. This band is home to the International Space Station, most Earth observation satellites, and the bulk of the Starlink constellation. Objects here experience measurable atmospheric drag, which gradually lowers their orbit over months to years and eventually causes re-entry. The relatively short signal path makes this altitude ideal for low-latency communications and high-resolution imaging.