Approximate orbit · United States
USA 278
USA 278 (NORAD 42941) 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
2,128 to 38,232 km up · tilted 62.9° · 717.9 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 →
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 Sep 2017
- COSPAR ID
- 2017-056A
- NORAD ID
- 42941
The United States' UN registration gives its orbit as about 2,196 to 37,661 km up, tilted 63.7°, 707.7 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
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.
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