Approximate orbit · United States

USA 276

APPROX

USA 276 (NORAD 42689) 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

418 to 423 km up · tilted 50.0° · 93.0 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
1 May 2017
COSPAR ID
2017-022A
NORAD ID
42689

The United States' UN registration gives its orbit as about 388 to 395 km up, tilted 50°, 92.3 min a lap (ST/SG/SER.E/859, 30 Apr 2020). 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
Technology testRadar imaging (unconfirmed)

Independent assessment

GCAT classes it as a military satellite for technology testing and radar imaging (unconfirmed), 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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