Geostationary
SBIRS GEO-3 (USA 282)
Missile Warning · US Space Force
Right now
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The third SBIRS satellite, adding capacity to the missile warning constellation. SBIRS GEO-3 provides theater missile defense support beyond its strategic nuclear warning role — detecting shorter-range ballistic missiles launched in conflict zones with enough accuracy to cue Patriot batteries, THAAD systems, and naval interceptors before impact. This theater tracking capability was not part of the original SBIRS design but emerged as a critical operational need.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Geostationaryappears to hang motionless over one spot on the equator
- Altitude
- 22,236–22,247 mi (35,786–35,803 km)
- Inclination
- 2.3°
- One orbit
- 23.9 hoursabout one orbit a day
- NORAD ID
- 43162
- Int’l designator
- 2018-009A
- Launched
- 2018
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
More geostationary
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- SBIRS GEO-6 (USA 336)Missile Warning
- SES-1North American Cable Distribution
- SES-10Latin American Communications (Historic Reused Rocket Launch)
- SES-11 (ECHOSTAR 105)US Cable / Direct-Broadcast Television (Joint)