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INTELSAT 17 (IS-17) — Live Satellite Tracking (NORAD 37238)
Track INTELSAT 17 (IS-17) (NORAD catalog number 37238) 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 2010's 65th orbital launch (COSPAR designation 2010-065B). It went up together with 1 other satellite from that launch still in the active catalog. As of this element set it had completed roughly 5,406 revolutions of Earth.
Moving at about 3.08 km/s, INTELSAT 17 (IS-17) sits in the geostationary belt roughly 35,786 km above the equator, where its 23.9-hour orbit matches Earth's rotation — seen from the ground it stays parked over the same longitude around the clock. The orbit is essentially circular (eccentricity 0.0003). Its near-equatorial 0.0° inclination keeps it above the tropics at all times. Its orbital plane crosses the equator northbound at right ascension 235.0°.
Orbital elements
| Orbit regime | geostationary/geosynchronous orbit (GEO) |
|---|---|
| Perigee × apogee altitude | ~35,783 km × 35,805 km |
| Inclination | 0.03° |
| Orbital period | 1436.1 min (1.00 rev/day) |
| Eccentricity | 0.00026 |
| Element set epoch | 2026-09-07 |
| COSPAR designation | 2010-065B |
| NORAD catalog number | 37238 |
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
INTELSAT 17 (IS-17) 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 INTELSAT 17 (IS-17) from the ground?
Not with the naked eye. At its altitude INTELSAT 17 (IS-17) 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 INTELSAT 17 (IS-17) in the Other Active Satellites group — usually craft from the same or adjacent launches:
- HYLAS 1 (NORAD 37237)
- FASTSAT-HSV01 (USA 220) (NORAD 37225)
- O/OREOS (USA 219) (NORAD 37224)
- SKYTERRA 1 (NORAD 37218)
- EUTELSAT KA-SAT 9A (NORAD 37258)
- COSMO-SKYMED 4 (NORAD 37216)
Browse the Other Active Satellites directory or the full satellite directory · What is a TLE? · WatchSat live globe