Skynet 5

Military communications satellitesIn servicePending verification

SpaceGBR

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Fact cardConfidence · Source

System

TypeMilitary communications satellites

ProliferationOrigin country only

Satellites45A (2007) to 5D (2012)Med^[1]

First launch2007Med^[1]

Dimensions and weight

Mass4,700 kg10,362 lbSkynet 5AMed^[1]

Orbit

Orbit regimeGEOMed^[1]

Catalogued on orbit4Payloads with current element sets in the public catalog, active or not.High^[2]

Active (CelesTrak)4Count in the CelesTrak active satellites list, which estimates operational status.Med^[2]

Perigee35,769–35,771 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Apogee35,802–35,803 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Orbital period1,436.1 minActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Inclination0.08–5.66 °Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Catalogued satellites · 4^[2]

Name	NORAD	COSPAR	Perigee km	Apogee km	Incl. °	Period min	Status
SKYNET 5A	30794	2007-007B	35,770	35,802	5.66	1436.1	Active
SKYNET 5B	32294	2007-056B	35,771	35,803	5.61	1436.1	Active
SKYNET 5C	33055	2008-030A	35,771	35,802	4.15	1436.1	Active
SKYNET 5D	39034	2012-075A	35,769	35,803	0.08	1436.1	Active

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

UK Ministry of Defence military communications satellites; Skynet 6A is the gap-filler successor.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.

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Operators

United Kingdom

Sources

Skynet 5A–5D, Gunter's Space Page
Tier 3 · checked 2026-11-08
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): 4 catalogued, 4 active.