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QZS-2 (MICHIBIKI-2) — Live Satellite Tracking (NORAD 42738)
Track QZS-2 (MICHIBIKI-2) (NORAD catalog number 42738) 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 has been on orbit since 2017, launched on the 28th orbital launch of that year (COSPAR designation 2017-028A).
Its speed swings from 2.85 km/s at apogee to 3.31 km/s at perigee. QZS-2 (MICHIBIKI-2) flies a geosynchronous orbit roughly 35,786 km up: its 23.9-hour period matches Earth's rotation, but at 39.3° inclination it is not geostationary — seen from the ground it traces a daily figure-eight around a fixed longitude, swinging about 39° north and south of the equator. The orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.0751), so its altitude varies between 32,628 km and 38,965 km over each revolution. Its 39.3° inclination keeps its ground track over the tropics and lower mid-latitudes. Its orbital plane crosses the equator northbound at right ascension 242.0°.
Orbital elements
| Orbit regime | inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) |
|---|---|
| Perigee × apogee altitude | ~32,628 km × 38,965 km |
| Inclination | 39.31° |
| Orbital period | 1436.2 min (1.00 rev/day) |
| Eccentricity | 0.07514 |
| Element set epoch | 2026-09-06 |
| COSPAR designation | 2017-028A |
| NORAD catalog number | 42738 |
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
QZS-2 (MICHIBIKI-2) 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 QZS-2 (MICHIBIKI-2) from the ground?
Not with the naked eye. At its altitude QZS-2 (MICHIBIKI-2) 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 QZS-2 (MICHIBIKI-2) in the Other Active Satellites group — usually craft from the same or adjacent launches:
- VIASAT-2 (NORAD 42740)
- EUTELSAT 172B (NORAD 42741)
- ECHOSTAR 21 (NORAD 42749)
- COSMOS 2518 (EKS 2) (NORAD 42719)
- HXMT (HUIYAN) (NORAD 42758)
- SES-15 (NORAD 42709)
Browse the Other Active Satellites directory or the full satellite directory · What is a TLE? · WatchSat live globe