EarthBrowserLive · Satellite · NORAD 27424
Where is Aqua right now?
Aqua, launched in 2002, is in low Earth orbit 685–687 km up, circling Earth every 98 minutes. Its position below updates every second from the latest orbital elements.
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Loading live position…
The full globe adds thousands of other satellites, the ground track for the coming orbits, and the sun’s terminator so you can see where it is in daylight.
When will Aqua pass over me?
Orbit
| Orbit type | LEO · low Earth orbit |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 685 km perigee · 687 km apogee |
| Period | 98.5 minutes · 14.62 orbits per day |
| Inclination | 98.4°, so it passes over latitudes up to about 82° N and S |
| Eccentricity | 0.0001 (near-circular) |
| Launched | 2002 · launch 2002-022, object A |
| Catalog | NORAD 27424 · International designator 2002-022A |
| Elements epoch | Nov 9, 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
How fast does Aqua travel?
Its speed follows from its orbit: one revolution every 98 minutes. Low-orbit satellites move at roughly 7.5 km per second (27,000 km/h); the higher the orbit, the slower the satellite. The live strip above shows the current ground speed.
Can I see Aqua from the ground?
Often, yes. It is large or reflective enough to show as a moving star when your sky is dark and the satellite is still in sunlight, which happens within a couple of hours of sunset or sunrise. Use the pass predictor above.
Why does the position keep moving across the map?
The satellite moves several kilometers every second while Earth rotates underneath it, so each orbit’s ground track lands west of the last one. The orbit itself is fixed in space; the map shows where it is above the turning Earth.
Where does the live position come from?
From the object’s published orbital elements (NORAD general perturbations data via CelesTrak), propagated with the SGP4 model in your browser. The same data drives the satellite layer on the EarthBrowser globe. Elements are refreshed daily, which keeps positions good to a few kilometers.