Approximate orbit · United States

USA 234

APPROX

USA 234 (NORAD 38109) 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

1,101 to 1,107 km up · tilted 123.0° · 107.4 min a lap · as listed on 14 Oct 2026

Its height and tilt are public. Which way its orbit faces, and where it is, are not, so azmth shows no position or pass times.

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
3 Apr 2012
COSPAR ID
2012-014A
NORAD ID
38109

The United States' UN registration gives its orbit as about 1,084 to 1,096 km up, tilted 122°, 106.9 min a lap (ST/SG/SER.E/667, 27 Mar 2013). 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
Radar imaging

Independent assessment

GCAT classes it as a military satellite for radar imaging, 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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