# List of Satellites & their Orbits (2024-02-11) **URL:** \ **Category:** projects\ **Created:** [February 11, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://pluralist.net/t/list-of-satellites-their-orbits-2024-02-11/74 "2024-02-11T19:17:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![delyan](https://pluralist.net/user_avatar/pluralist.net/delyan/32/245_2.png) [@delyan](https://pluralist.net/u/delyan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://pluralist.net/t/list-of-satellites-their-orbits-2024-02-11/74/1 "2024-02-11T19:17:08Z")
There are half a dozen companies who operate satellites and provide Internet to rural communities where no fiber internet can reach. - ➤ There are 7560 satellites in space as of May 1, 2023 per UCS - See them all here: [Google **Spreadsheet**](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/190c8pSp_YgDz6jYq81X9Vt36pkvL649jlyvaarHTjEs/edit?usp=sharing) - UCS Satellite Database: [Satellite Database | Union of Concerned Scientists](https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/satellite-database) - List of **meteorological** satellites in space: [Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review Tool](https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites) # Some Interesting (Consumer Internet) Satellites | No. | Company Name | Description | Number of Operational Satellites | Orbit Type | Altitude | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | HughesNet ([SATS](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/watchlist?tab=Related&id=a22hpr&ocid=ansMSNMoney11&duration=1D&src=b_secdans&relatedQuoteId=a22hpr&relatedSource=MlAl)) | Major internet service provider in the US, known for its satellite broadband service HughesNet. | [3](#HughesNet) | geosynchronous | 22k mi (36k km) | Latest satellite - [JUPITER 3](https://news.satnews.com/2023/11/19/hughes-jupiter-3-initiates-over-the-air-testing-with-the-ground-system/) - orbital position is 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above the equator at 95 degrees west | | 2 | EchoStar Lyra ([SATS](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/watchlist?tab=Related&id=a22hpr&ocid=ansMSNMoney11&duration=1D&src=b_secdans&relatedQuoteId=a22hpr&relatedSource=MlAl)) | Global S-band mobile satellite service **not launched** | **planned** : 28 | LEO | n/a | | | 3 | Telesat ([TSAT](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/watchlist?tab=Related&id=a1x2p2&ocid=ansMSNMoney11&src=b_secdans&relatedQuoteId=a1x2p2&relatedSource=MlAl)) | Canadian satellite communications company that offers TV signals and internet services, including to rural areas. | 13 GEO + 198 LEO | both | [620 mi (1,000 km)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telesat#Lightspeed_LEO_constellation) | | | 4 | Amazon (Project Kuiper) | Amazon’s initiative to provide broadband to underserved communities via a large constellation of LEO satellites. | 0 ( **planned:** 3,236) | LEO | [630 km (390 mi)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuiper_Systems#:~:text=Project%20Kuiper%20System%20is%20planned%20to%20consist%20of,altitude%20and%20an%20orbital%20inclination%20of%2051.9%20degrees.) | ⌛ | | 5 | SES SA | Global satellite operator offering video and data connectivity worldwide with a fleet of GEO and MEO satellites. | 70 | GEO | [36k km, 2k km, 8k km](https://www.science.lu/fr/video-transmission-and-data-networks/ses-luxembourg-world-leading-satellite-operator) | x | | 6 | Eutelsat/OneWeb | Joint venture combining GEO and LEO satellite constellations for global satellite-based connectivity services. | [648](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutelsat_OneWeb#:~:text=The%20satellites%20in%20the%20OneWeb,at%2086.4%C2%B0%20orbital%20inclination.) | 12 near polar orbit planes at 86.4° orbital inclination | at 1,200 km (750 mi) | xx | | 7 | Intelsat | Provides broadband internet, video broadcasting, and mobile satellite services globally with a fleet of GEO satellites. | 52 | GEO | [22k mi (36k km)](https://www.intelsat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/intelsat-satellite-primer-whitepaper.pdf#:~:text=They%20orbit%20over%20the%20Earth%E2%80%99s%20equator%20at%20an,of%20approximately%2036%2C000%20kilometers%20or%2022%2C000%20miles%20up.) | x | | 8 | Iridium | Operates a fleet of 66 LEO satellites providing voice and data services worldwide, focusing on various sectors including government and public safety. | 66 | LEO | 485 mi (780 km) | | | 9 | Freedomsat | Offers internet services in the UK and other regions, focusing on connectivity to rural and remote areas. | 13 | | | | | 10 | Geospace | Potential competitor in the satellite internet service market, with plans to provide internet service to a significant population. | [240](https://starlinkmag.com/starlink-competitors/#4_Geospace) | LEO | ? | [Geespace - China - space internet for 1.5bn people](https://starlinkmag.com/starlink-competitors/#4_Geospace) | | 11 | Globalstar | Provides mobile satellite voice and data services globally, crucial for remote areas lacking traditional communication infrastructure. | [48](https://www.n2yo.com/satellites/?c=17#:~:text=Each%20Globalstar%20satellite%20consists%20of%20an%20antenna%2C%20a,operates%20at%20an%20altitude%20of%201%2C414km%20%28876%20miles%29.) | LEO | 1,414km (876 miles) | eight orbital planes of six satellites each, inclined at 52° to provide service on Earth from 70° North latitude to 70° South latitude | # HughesNet: - **JUPITER 1 (EchoStar XVII):** Launched in July 2012, covers parts of North America, and provides capacity for consumer and small business internet services. - **JUPITER 2 (EchoStar XIX):** Launched in October 2017, covers additional areas of North America compared to JUPITER 1 and offers similar services. - **JUPITER 3 (EchoStar XXIV):** Launched in July 2023, boasts the highest capacity in the HughesNet fleet and targets underserved regions in North and South America. # Other Facts From [Satellite article on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite) > As of December 31st 2022, **there are 6,718 operational satellites in the Earth’s orbit** , of which 4,529 belong to the United States (3,996 commercial), 590 belong to China, 174 belong to Russia, and 1,425 belong to other nations.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite#cite_note-2) The number quoted above must be off by orders of magnitude since we know that Starlink has launched hundreds of satellites since December 31st, 2022. * * * # Top 15 satellites with lowest Perigee 1. Name of Satellite, Alternate Names – Perigee (km) 2. USA 316 (NROL 111 USA 316) – 150 3. USA 317 (NROL USA 317) – 150 4. USA 318 (NROL USA 18) – 150 5. Tianhe – 170 6. Turksat 5B – 198 7. Keyhole 6 (NRO L49, Advanced KH-11, KH-12-6, Improved Crystal, USA 224) – 200 8. TDO – 216 9. SPIRALE-A (Système Préparatoire Infra-Rouge pour l’Alerte) – 240 10. Gaofen 11 – 241 11. Gaofen 11-03 – 243 12. Gaofen 11-02 – 244 13. Lotos-S1 804 (Cosmos 2528) – 244 14. Keyhole 7 (NRO L65, Advanced KH-11, Improved Crystal, USA 245) – 257 15. Starlink-2521 – 258 16. Starlink-2615 – 258