Positioning satellite · BeiDou

BEIDOU-3S IGSO-2S

Live position of BEIDOU-3S IGSO-2S, propagated with SGP4. A IGSO satellite of BeiDou, catalogue number 40938, period about 1436.4 minutes, inclination 49.15 degrees. To find out whether it is above a given place on the ground, use KUON SKY.

Where it is now

Seen from where you are

Elevation is the angle above the horizon. The closer to 90 degrees, the more nearly overhead it is, the shorter its path through the atmosphere, and the less likely a building or hill is to cut it off. To count with terrain shadow included, use KUON SKY.

Identity

System

BeiDou

Also known as

C56

Catalogue number

40938

International designator

2015-053A

Launch year

2015

Shape of the orbit

Orbit class

IGSO (one day per orbit, but tilted, so it traces a figure eight in the sky)

Period

1436.4 min

Lowest point

35,513 km

Highest point

36,073 km

Inclination

49.15 deg

Eccentricity

0.006636

Element set epoch

2026-08-02 14:20:02 UTC

About this system

Operated by China. It is the only global system that mixes GEO, IGSO and MEO satellites, and it is the largest by count.

That mix puts more satellites in view across the Asia-Pacific region.

Signals: B1I, B1C, B2a and B3I.

About the numbers on this page

• Identity and orbit shape are computed from the orbital elements (OMM) published by CelesTrak. They describe the orbit at the element set epoch; the real orbit drifts slowly away from it.
• A satellite launched recently is still moving toward its assigned slot, so its values change from day to day.
• The live position is an SGP4 prediction. Whether the satellite is actually broadcasting a usable signal cannot be told from this calculation.
• The orbit class is decided mechanically from period and inclination, so it may not match the operator's own wording.

CelesTrak GP (OMM) · 2026-08-20

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