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SpaceUnited States

Space-Based Space Surveillance (SBSS)

Space surveillance satelliteIn serviceFielded 2012Pending verification
SpaceUSA
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Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeSpace surveillance satellite
Date of introduction2012
ProliferationOrigin country only
Satellites1SBSS Block 10, launched 2010Med[1]
First launch2010Med[1]
ContractorsBoeing; Ball Aerospace (satellite)Med[1]
Orbit
Orbit regimeLEOMed[1]
Design life7 yearsMed[1]
Catalogued on orbit1Payloads with current element sets in the public catalog, active or not.High[2]
Active (CelesTrak)1Count in the CelesTrak active satellites list, which estimates operational status.Med[2]
Perigee458 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High[2]
Apogee569 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High[2]
Orbital period94.9 minActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High[2]
Inclination97.71 °Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High[2]
Catalogued satellites · 1[2]
NameNORADCOSPARPerigee kmApogee kmIncl. °Period minStatus
SBSS (USA 216)371682010-048A45856997.7194.9Active

Mean elements at epoch 2026-11-08 or later. Perigee and apogee are computed from mean motion and eccentricity and are approximate. Status follows the CelesTrak active list.

Summary

LEO satellite that tracks objects in deep space and near-Earth orbit.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
United States
Sources
  1. Space-Based Space Surveillance (weapons and platforms entry), Air & Space Forces Magazine
    Tier 3 · checked 2026-11-08
  2. NORAD GP element sets (current data), CelesTrak (data from the U.S. Space Force 18th/19th Space Defense Squadron catalog)
    Published/updated 2026-11-08 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-11-08
Change log
  • 2026-11-08 Entry created from cited open sources
  • 2026-11-08 Orbital elements from CelesTrak GP data (epoch about 2026-11-08): 1 catalogued, 1 active.