Science
WILDFIRE 8
Military Missile Tracking (SDA Tranche 0 Tracking Layer) · US Space Development Agency (SDA)
Right now
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One of the September 2023 Tranche 0 Tracking Layer satellites, part of the demonstration constellation that proved out low-latency laser communication between satellites, ground stations, and — in later testing — an SDA terminal installed on an aircraft in flight. WILDFIRE 8's operational lessons directly informed the design of the much larger Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 Tracking Layer constellations now under construction.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 586–593 mi (944–954 km)
- Inclination
- 81.0°
- One orbit
- 103.9 minutes13.9 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 57768
- Int’l designator
- 2023-133M
- Launched
- 2023
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
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