Approximate orbit · United States

USA 421

APPROX

USA 421 (NORAD 61644) 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

575 to 579 km up · tilted 70.0° · 96.2 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: 24 Oct 2024
COSPAR ID: 2024-192A
NORAD ID: 61644

The United States' UN registration gives its orbit as about 521 to 531 km up, tilted 70°, 94.8 min a lap (ST/SG/SER.E/1239, 17 Jun 2025). 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

Optical imaging

Official description

“This mission is the fourth launch of the NRO’s proliferated architecture and signifies the NRO’s increased launch frequency and delivery on orbit for this program.”

National Reconnaissance Office, 24 Oct 2024

It names no purpose.

Independent assessment

GCAT classes it as a military satellite for optical 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