DMSP 5D-2 F10 (USA 68)

About This Satellite

DMSP 5D-2 F10 (USA 68) is listed as a payload under NORAD ID 20978 with international designator 1990-105A. According to the GCAT master catalog, it was built by GEEW, on the Block 5D platform, with a catalog mass of 773 ? kg, with a shape described as Box + Pan. It is associated with United States of America. In the historical build snapshot (TLE epoch 2026-09-05), its LEO orbit had an apogee of about 809 km and a perigee near 707 km, with an inclination of 98.60° and a period of roughly 100 minutes; at apogee its speed was about 7.42 km/s. It was launched on 1990-12-01. The build snapshot uses a TLE with epoch 2026-09-05. A moving map, when available, is a prediction rather than a direct measurement.

What this identity tells us

The payload classification comes from GCAT record S20978. A catalog identifier follows a tracked physical object, not necessarily an active service. Manufacturer and owner entries describe catalog associations; ownership is not interchangeable with present-day operation. A separately sourced mission history has not yet been verified for this record.

Reading this orbital snapshot

Based on TLE epoch: 2026-09-05. Estimated altitude ranges from 707 km at perigee to 809 km at apogee, a difference of 102 km. The orbital period is about 100.0 minutes. Eccentricity 0.00717 indicates a nearly circular path. In a two-body approximation, perigee speed is 1.01 times apogee speed. These are mean-element estimates, not instantaneous measurements. Distance per orbit uses an ellipse approximation.

Saved build snapshot. If a valid TLE is retrieved, this explanation and the orbit panel update together. Otherwise this dated snapshot is retained.

Ground track is not sensor coverage

An inclination of 98.60 degrees implies approximate geocentric ground-track limits of 81.4 degrees north and south. This is a retrograde orbit, moving against the direction of Earth rotation. The plotted line marks the point beneath the object. It does not represent camera coverage, radio reception, or a guaranteed visible pass.

Accuracy and missing information

The introductory record describes the build snapshot. The orbital snapshot explanation and orbit panel share any successfully retrieved TLE; check the displayed epoch. Reentered objects retain historical data only. Mission history is not rewritten by TLE updates. TLE/SGP4 positions are predictions and can change after maneuvers or updated observations. The 14-day stale-data cutoff is a display safeguard, not an accuracy guarantee. Local passes are geometric predictions, not a visibility forecast. No verified operator or mission status means unknown, not active. Do not use this catalog for collision avoidance or operational flight decisions.

Catalog sources: CelesTrak SATCAT: NORAD 20978 · GCAT: S20978 (source update 2026 Sep 4 2345:57). Supplementary metadata: SatNOGS DB, retrieved 2026-09-05T12:57:25.375Z. Page assembled 2026-09-15. GCAT phase codes describe trajectory phases, not mission health.

Learn more: TLE data · Perigee and apogee · Ground tracks · JOT (Jewawud Live Orbital Map)

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