Approximate orbit · United States

USA 488

APPROX

USA 488 (NORAD 63334) 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: 21 Mar 2025
COSPAR ID: 2025-058B
NORAD ID: 63334

The United States' UN registration gives its orbit as about 496 to 501 km up, tilted 70°, 94.6 min a lap (ST/SG/SER.E/1290, 14 Aug 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 latest proliferated NRO mission continues to increase our space-based intelligence capabilities to address strategic national security needs.”

National Reconnaissance Office, 21 Mar 2025

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