Approximate orbit · United States

USA 171

APPROX

USA 171 (NORAD 27937) 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

35,632 to 35,941 km up · tilted 15.1° · 1,436.1 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.Which way the high point faces is not published.

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

Catalogue

Country
United States
From GCAT (14 Oct 2026)
Launched
9 Sep 2003
COSPAR ID
2003-041A
NORAD ID
27937

The United States registered the orbit it was launched into: about 165 to 35,778 km up, tilted 26.7°, 630.2 min a lap (ST/SG/SER.E/437, 18 Nov 2003). 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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