NTS-3

NavigationMilitaryGEOEquatorialUnited States

NTS-3 is a navigation satellite, with ownership listed as United States in CelesTrak's catalogue, currently in a geostationary orbit about 35,272 km above the equator. It completes one orbit of Earth roughly every 1410 minutes at an inclination of 3.6°. It was launched in 2025. Track its live position and see when it passes over your location on azmth.

Orbital data

NORAD ID: 65160
COSPAR ID: 2025-173A
Type: Navigation
Orbit: GEO
Perigee (lowest): 35,237 km
Apogee (highest): 35,306 km
Inclination: 3.57°
Orbital period: 1410 min
Launch year: 2025
Owner (CelesTrak): United States

Orbital data updated: 2026-10-29 · from CelesTrak, refreshed every 2 hours.

Who operates it

United StatesLIVEActive

Navigation

Official description

“The USSF is leveraging the newly certified Vulcan Centaur rocket to deliver demonstrations and experiments to geosynchronous orbit on behalf of the Department of Defense customers.”

US Space Force, 13 Aug 2025

Independent assessment

GCAT classes it as a military satellite for navigation and records it as active (17 Oct 2026).

Data: GCAT · CC BY 4.0 Class, mission and status adapted from GCAT by Jonathan McDowell, CC BY 4.0, data update 17 Oct 2026.

Military satellites, counted and explained →

About GEO orbit

Geostationary Orbit. Exactly 35,786 km above the equator. Satellites here orbit at the same rate Earth rotates, so they appear stationary in the sky. Used for TV, weather, and communications.