PAKTES 1A

PAKTES 1A is an active satellite operated by Pakistan, launched on 2018-07-09 from Jiuquan, China. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 556 km and 586 km with an inclination of 98.1°. It travels at approximately 27,279 km/h (7.58 km/s), completing one full orbit every 96 minutes — that’s roughly 14.99 orbits per day. Its near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit means it passes over any given point on Earth at approximately the same local solar time, ideal for consistent Earth observation lighting conditions. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~3–10 years. Orbital Radar tracks PAKTES 1A in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

PAKTES 1A operates in a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), a special subset of LEO where the orbital plane precesses to keep a constant angle relative to the Sun. This means the satellite crosses any given latitude at approximately the same local solar time on every pass, providing consistent lighting conditions — essential for Earth observation, weather monitoring and environmental science. SSO orbits typically sit between 600 and 800 km altitude with inclinations near 97–99°.