AEROCUBE 4.5A

AEROCUBE 4.5A is an active satellite operated by United States, launched on 2012-09-13 from Vandenberg SFB, California on the INTRUDER 10 launch. After 14 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 246 km and 270 km with an inclination of 64.6°. It travels at approximately 27,916 km/h (7.75 km/s), completing one full orbit every 90 minutes — that’s roughly 16.07 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is weeks to months. Orbital Radar tracks AEROCUBE 4.5A in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

AEROCUBE 4.5A orbits at an average altitude of 258 km in the lower reaches of Low Earth Orbit, where atmospheric drag is significant and orbital lifetimes are measured in months to a few years. This is the busiest corridor in space — home to crewed spacecraft, rapid-revisit imaging satellites and the densest part of the Starlink constellation. Within ±50 km of AEROCUBE 4.5A’s average altitude, there are currently 99 active payloads and 5 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include STARLINK-1151, STARLINK-1143, STARLINK-1320. With an inclination of 64.6°, AEROCUBE 4.5A passes over latitudes between 64.6°N and 64.6°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. United States operates approximately 12,413 active satellites in total, of which 79 share a similar altitude band with AEROCUBE 4.5A.