Approximate orbit · United States

USA 118

APPROX

USA 118 (NORAD 23855) is a satellite whose full orbit is not public. What is published: its height and tilt, drawn to scale, and who operates it.

Orbit

Approximate orbit, direction and position not public

36,173 to 36,214 km up · tilted 8.0° · 1,457.0 min a lap · as listed on 14 Oct 2026

Its height and tilt are public. The spot above the equator it keeps is not, so azmth shows no position.

Why some orbits are not public →

Diagram by azmth: size, shape and tilt to scale, from the catalogue's figures. It shows no place on Earth.

Height and tilt: CelesTrak and Space-Track.org, as listed on 14 Oct 2026

Catalogue

Country
United States
From GCAT (14 Oct 2026)
Launched
24 Apr 1996
COSPAR ID
1996-026A
NORAD ID
23855

The United States registered the orbit it was launched into: about 225 to 38,455 km up, tilted 28.6°, 684 min a lap (ST/SG/SER.E/319, 8 Apr 1997). Where it works now is not published. The United States gives its function as “Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communications”.

Who operates it

MilitaryUnited StatesActive
Signals intelligence

Independent assessment

GCAT classes it as a military satellite for signals intelligence, lists its owner as National Reconnaissance Office and records it as active (14 Oct 2026).

Data: GCAT · CC BY 4.0 Class, mission and status adapted from GCAT by Jonathan McDowell, CC BY 4.0, data update 14 Oct 2026.

Military satellites, counted and explained →

CelesTrak record

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