Geostationary
INMARSAT 3-F2
Mobile Satellite (Maritime Safety) · Inmarsat
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An Inmarsat third-generation L-band satellite providing continuous maritime and aeronautical safety communications. Inmarsat-3 operates the oldest continuously functioning international maritime safety communication system in history — GMDSS has been operational since 1999 and Inmarsat-3 satellites have been its backbone throughout. These are the satellites that ship captains call when they need coast guards, and that aircraft contact when flying over oceans.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Geostationaryappears to hang motionless over one spot on the equator
- Altitude
- 22,278–22,307 mi (35,853–35,900 km)
- Inclination
- 10.1°
- One orbit
- 24.0 hoursabout one orbit a day
- NORAD ID
- 24307
- Int’l designator
- 1996-053A
- Launched
- 1996
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
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