OPAL

Satellite information

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Satellite Type and Status

PAYLOADIN ORBIT

Key statistics

Satellite OPAL at a glance.

Uptime

9348

Days in orbit

Revolutions

≈ 14.4

Per day

Orbit

SSO

Sun Synchronous Orbit

Inclination

100.2

Latest

Satellite identification and parameters

Extended collection of information and parameters for OPAL.

Object identification

Identified? True

Debris? False

Object name: OPAL

International designator: 2000-004C

Object number (NORAD): 26063

Object ID (CCSDS): 26063

Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)

Current information (Y/N): Y

RCS size: MEDIUM

Orbital parameters

Period: 100.153 minutes

Inclination: 100.201 deg

SMA: 7143.904 km

Apoapsis: 791.73 km

Periapsis: 739.807 km

RAAN: 121.2829 deg

Eccentricy: 0.00363406

Argument of periapsis: 134.5957 deg

Mean anomaly: 225.82 deg

Mean motion: 14.37802989 rev/day

Mean motion (dot): 0.00000194 rev/day2

B* drag term: 0.000083411331 1/REarth

Two-line elements (TLE)

Creation date: Aug. 31, 2025, 2:26 a.m.

Reference frame: TEME

Reference center: EARTH

Epoch: Aug. 30, 2025, 10:35 p.m. UTC

TLE line 0: 0 OPAL

TLE line 1: 1 26063U 00004C 25242.94165365 .00000194 00000-0 83411-4 0 9990

TLE line 2: 2 26063 100.2010 121.2829 0036341 134.5957 225.8200 14.37802989341579

Live tracking on map

Real-time ground track for satellite OPAL.

In-orbit conjunctions

A list of the most updated potential collisions computed for object OPAL.

Target Orbit TCA Probability of collision Miss distance Type
COSMOS 397 DEB * LEO 2025-08-29 21:27:17 0.0001045704 380.0 (m) DEBRIS
CZ-6A DEB SSO 2025-08-13 12:22:18 0.0001002531 210.0 (m) DEBRIS
DMSP 5D-2 F11 DEB SSO 2025-06-21 15:28:33 0.0001316912 601.0 (m) DEBRIS
COSMOS 2251 DEB LEO 2025-04-06 19:37:59 0.0001209291 333.0 (m) DEBRIS
FENGYUN 1C DEB SSO 2024-12-31 13:03:22 0.0001842184 722.0 (m) DEBRIS

Associated space launch

The JAWSAT (Joint Air Force Academy / Weber State University Satellite) project was developed by students working alongside aerospace professionals. Initially designed with a pulsed-plasma thruster to train Air Force Academy cadets (see JAWSAT), the mission has since evolved to include the efforts of several universities, local aerospace companies, the Air Force Academy, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and NASA. Utilizing breakthrough technologies, JAWSAT deployed four satellites when it reached orbit. The onboard imaging system recorded the deployment of each payload with its six digital cameras. The first free-flying Academy satellite, FalconSat-1 carried the CHAWS (Charging Hazards and Wake Studies) experiment developed by the Physics Department at the Academy.

OPAL was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Minotaur I | JAWSAT & FalconSat 1’, on board a Minotaur I space rocket.

The launch took place on Jan. 27, 2000, 3:03 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 8.

For more information about the launch, click the button.

Launch to space Minotaur I | JAWSAT & FalconSat 1
Minotaur I | JAWSAT & FalconSat 1

Agency: N/A

Status: Launch Successful

Launch date: Jan. 27, 2000, 3:03 a.m. UTC

Rocket: Minotaur I

Launch pad: Space Launch Complex 8

Location: Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

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