EarthBrowserLive · Satellite · NORAD 21574
Where is Ers-1 right now?
Ers-1, launched in 1991, is in low Earth orbit 737–782 km up, circling Earth every 100 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 Ers-1 pass over me?
Orbit
| Orbit type | LEO · low Earth orbit |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 737 km perigee · 782 km apogee |
| Period | 100.0 minutes · 14.40 orbits per day |
| Inclination | 98.8°, so it passes over latitudes up to about 81° N and S |
| Eccentricity | 0.0032 (near-circular) |
| Launched | 1991 · launch 1991-050, object A |
| Catalog | NORAD 21574 · International designator 1991-050A |
| Elements epoch | Nov 9, 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
How fast does Ers-1 travel?
Its speed follows from its orbit: one revolution every 100 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 Ers-1 from the ground?
Usually only with binoculars or a camera. Small satellites are faint; the pass predictor above marks passes where the geometry is right (dark sky, sunlit satellite), but a dark site and knowing exactly where to look matter.
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.