Approximate orbit · Japan

IGS 8A

APPROX

GCAT lists it as JSE reda-4 gouki.

IGS 8A (NORAD 39061) 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

512 to 515 km up · tilted 97.5° · 94.9 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, as listed on 14 Oct 2026

Catalogue

Country: Japan; From GCAT (14 Oct 2026)
Launched: 27 Jan 2013
COSPAR ID: 2013-002A
NORAD ID: 39061

Japan's UN registration gives its orbit as about 511 to 528 km up, tilted 97.5°, 95 min a lap (ST/SG/SER.E/674, 2 May 2013). Japan gives its function as “Satellite conducting missions assigned by the Government of Japan”.

Who operates it

MilitaryJapanActive

Radar imaging

Official description

“The Information Gathering Satellites and their related systems are intended for collecting and analysing information that contributes to diplomatic, defence and other security policy and to crisis management such as responses to large-scale disasters; the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center is the satellite intelligence body that handles the whole chain of work, from their development and operation to the analysis of the image information they produce.”

Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center (undated, server date 31 Jul 2026)

azmth's translation · Show original

情報収集衛星とその関連システムは、外交、防衛その他の安全保障政策や、大規模な災害への対応等の危機管理対策に資する情報の収集や分析を目的としたもので、内閣衛星情報センターは、その開発から運用、それらによって得られた画像情報の分析に至る一連の事務を総合的に行う衛星情報機関です。

Independent assessment

GCAT classes it as a military satellite for radar imaging, lists its owner as Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center 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