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SKYNET 5A — Live Satellite Tracking (NORAD 30794)
Track SKYNET 5A (NORAD catalog number 30794) live on the WatchSat interactive 3D globe above. Its position is propagated in real time from the latest CelesTrak two-line element set using the SGP4/SDP4 orbital model — the same math professional trackers run. It is object B of 2007's 7th orbital launch (COSPAR designation 2007-007B). As of this element set it had completed roughly 7,152 revolutions of Earth.
Moving at about 3.08 km/s, SKYNET 5A flies a geosynchronous orbit roughly 35,786 km up: its 23.9-hour period matches Earth's rotation, but at 5.5° inclination it is not geostationary — seen from the ground it traces a daily figure-eight around a fixed longitude, swinging about 6° north and south of the equator. The orbit is essentially circular (eccentricity 0.0003). Its near-equatorial 5.5° inclination keeps it above the tropics at all times. Its orbital plane crosses the equator northbound at right ascension 72.7°.
Orbital elements
| Orbit regime | geostationary/geosynchronous orbit (GEO) |
|---|---|
| Perigee × apogee altitude | ~35,780 km × 35,808 km |
| Inclination | 5.50° |
| Orbital period | 1436.1 min (1.00 rev/day) |
| Eccentricity | 0.00034 |
| Element set epoch | 2026-09-07 |
| COSPAR designation | 2007-007B |
| NORAD catalog number | 30794 |
This page's orbital elements come from the CelesTrak catalog of 2026-09-08. The live 3D view above fetches its own current CelesTrak data when the page opens, through an edge cache that refreshes roughly every 30 minutes.
About the Other Active Satellites group
SKYNET 5A is one of 4,471 active satellites in WatchSat's general catalog — the broad population of Earth-observation, communications, science, amateur-radio and technology spacecraft outside the giant broadband constellations. Browse all other active satellites live in 3D.
Can you see SKYNET 5A from the ground?
Not with the naked eye. At its altitude SKYNET 5A is far beyond unaided visibility — following satellites this high takes a telescope and good timing. You can still track it precisely in the live 3D view above, or check pass predictions for your location.
Related satellites
Nearest catalog neighbors of SKYNET 5A in the Other Active Satellites group — usually craft from the same or adjacent launches:
- THEMIS D (NORAD 30797)
- THEMIS E (NORAD 30798)
- THEMIS A (NORAD 30580)
- ANIK F3 (NORAD 31102)
- HAIYANG-1B (NORAD 31113)
- SAUDISAT 3 (NORAD 31118)
Browse the Other Active Satellites directory or the full satellite directory · What is a TLE? · WatchSat live globe