KH-8 Satellite Bus

Data current as of 2026-07-20.

The KH-8 bus accounts for 49 cataloged objects, of which 0 are in orbit and 0 are active. 49 have reentered. Most are built by LMSC. The largest operator on this bus is National Reconnaissance Office. The first launched in 1966, the most recent in 1984.

0
In orbit
0
Active
49
Total launched
49
Reentered

KH-8 launched per year

2 4 6 8 1966: 3 launched, 3 since reentered 1967: 6 launched, 6 since reentered 1968: 8 launched, 8 since reentered 1969: 4 launched, 4 since reentered 1970: 5 launched, 5 since reentered 1971: 4 launched, 4 since reentered 1972: 3 launched, 3 since reentered 1973: 2 launched, 2 since reentered 1974: 3 launched, 3 since reentered 1975: 2 launched, 2 since reentered 1976: 2 launched, 2 since reentered 1977: 2 launched, 2 since reentered 1978: 0 objects launched 1979: 1 launched, 1 since reentered 1980: 0 objects launched 1981: 1 launched, 1 since reentered 1982: 1 launched, 1 since reentered 1983: 1 launched, 1 since reentered 1984: 1 launched, 1 since reentered 1966 1971 1976 1981
Still in orbit Since reentered Click a year to list its satellites.

Typical specifications

Most common values across cataloged KH-8 satellites.

Manufacturer LMSC
Purpose Reconnaissance, photo (film return type)
Launch mass 2400 kg
Dry mass 2400 kg
Length 5.7 m
Diameter 1.5 m
Span 5.7 m
Shape Cyl
Power 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Propulsion Bell 8096, SPS
Design life 75 days
Equipment ?

Top operators

Top countries

US 49

KH-8 satellites

Track any of them live in KeepTrack.

Name NORAD COSPAR Owner Launched Orbit Status Track
OPS 8424 OPS 8424 14935 1984-039A NRO/SAFSP Apr 17, 1984 · Reentered
OPS 2925 OPS 2925 14001 1983-032A NRO/SAFSP Apr 15, 1983 88 min, 96.5° Reentered
OPS 2849 OPS 2849 13040 1982-006A NRO/SAFSP Jan 21, 1982 97 min, 97.2° Reentered
OPS 1166 OPS 1166 12315 1981-019A NRO/SAFSP Feb 28, 1981 88 min, 96.3° Reentered
OPS 7164 OPS 7164 11372 1979-044A NRO/SAFSP May 28, 1979 89 min, 96.4° Reentered
OPS 7471 OPS 7471 10374 1977-094A NRO/SAFSP Sep 23, 1977 89 min, 96.5° Reentered
OPS 4915 OPS 4915 09863 1977-019A NRO/SAFSP Mar 13, 1977 89 min, 96.4° Reentered
OPS 8533 OPS 8533 09426 1976-094A NRO/SAFSP Sep 15, 1976 89 min, 96.4° Reentered
OPS 7600 OPS 7600 08770 1976-027A NRO/SAFSP Mar 22, 1976 87 min, 96.4° Reentered
OPS 5499 OPS 5499 08360 1975-098A NRO/SAFSP Oct 9, 1975 89 min, 96.4° Reentered
OPS 4883 OPS 4883 07747 1975-032A NRO/SAFSP Apr 18, 1975 89 min, 110.5° Reentered
OPS 3004 OPS 3004 07416 1974-065A NRO/SAFSP Aug 14, 1974 90 min, 110.5° Reentered
OPS 1776 OPS 1776 07330 1974-042A NRO/SAFSP Jun 6, 1974 90 min, 110.5° Reentered
OPS 6889 OPS 6889 07121 1974-007A NRO/SAFSP Feb 13, 1974 89 min, 110.4° Reentered
OPS 6275 OPS 6275 06837 1973-068A NRO/SAFSP Sep 27, 1973 89 min, 110.4° Reentered
OPS 2093 OPS 2093 06640 1973-028A NRO/SAFSP May 16, 1973 90 min, 110.5° Reentered
OPS 3978 OPS 3978 06321 1972-103A NRO/SAFSP Dec 21, 1972 89 min, 110.4° Reentered
OPS 8888 OPS 8888 06172 1972-068A NRO/SAFSP Sep 1, 1972 89 min, 110.2° Reentered
OPS 1678 OPS 1678 05888 1972-016A NRO/SAFSP Mar 17, 1972 90 min, 110.9° Reentered
OPS 7616 OPS 7616 05575 1971-092A NRO/SAFSP Oct 23, 1971 89 min, 110.9° Reentered
OPS 8607 OPS 8607 05409 1971-070A NRO/SAFSP Aug 12, 1971 89 min, 111.0° Reentered
OPS 7899 OPS 7899 05171 1971-033A NRO/SAFSP Apr 22, 1971 89 min, 110.9° Reentered
OPS 7776 OPS 7776 04874 1971-005A NRO/SAFSP Jan 21, 1971 90 min, 110.8° Reentered
OPS 7568 OPS 7568 04596 1970-090A NRO/SAFSP Oct 23, 1970 90 min, 111.0° Reentered
OPS 7874 OPS 7874 04492 1970-061A NRO/SAFSP Aug 18, 1970 88 min, 111.0° Reentered
OPS 6820 OPS 6820 04422 1970-048A NRO/SAFSP Jun 25, 1970 89 min, 108.8° Reentered
OPS 2863 OPS 2863 04375 1970-031A NRO/SAFSP Apr 15, 1970 89 min, 110.9° Reentered
OPS 6531 OPS 6531 04296 1970-002A NRO/SAFSP Jan 14, 1970 89 min, 109.9° Reentered
OPS 1077 OPS 1077 03984 1969-050A NRO/SAFSP Jun 3, 1969 90 min, 110.0° Reentered
OPS 5310 OPS 5310 03895 1969-039A NRO/SAFSP Apr 15, 1969 89 min, 108.8° Reentered
OPS 4248 OPS 4248 03772 1969-019A NRO/SAFSP Mar 4, 1969 89 min, 92.0° Reentered
OPS 7585 OPS 7585 03665 1969-007A NRO/SAFSP Jan 22, 1969 97 min, 106.1° Reentered
OPS 6518 OPS 6518 03594 1968-108A NRO/SAFSP Dec 4, 1968 92 min, 106.2° Reentered
OPS 5296 OPS 5296 03532 1968-099A NRO/SAFSP Nov 6, 1968 89 min, 106.0° Reentered
OPS 5247 OPS 5247 03375 1968-074A NRO/SAFSP Sep 10, 1968 89 min, 106.0° Reentered
OPS 5187 OPS 5187 03335 1968-064A NRO/SAFSP Aug 6, 1968 90 min, 110.0° Reentered
OPS 5138 OPS 5138 03278 1968-047A NRO/SAFSP Jun 5, 1968 89 min, 110.5° Reentered
OPS 5105 OPS 5105 03199 1968-031A NRO/SAFSP Apr 17, 1968 89 min, 111.5° Reentered
OPS 5057 OPS 5057 03148 1968-018A NRO/SAFSP Mar 13, 1968 89 min, 99.9° Reentered
OPS 5028 OPS 5028 03098 1968-005A NRO/SAFSP Jan 18, 1968 90 min, 111.5° Reentered
OPS 5000 OPS 5000 03058 1967-121A NRO/SAFSP Dec 5, 1967 90 min, 109.5° Reentered
OPS 4995 OPS 4995 03012 1967-103A NRO/SAFSP Oct 25, 1967 90 min, 111.5° Reentered
OPS 4941 OPS 4941 02952 1967-090A NRO/SAFSP Sep 19, 1967 89 min, 106.1° Reentered
OPS 4886 OPS 4886 02919 1967-079A NRO/SAFSP Aug 16, 1967 89 min, 111.6° Reentered
OPS 4282 OPS 4282 02858 1967-064A NRO/SAFSP Jun 20, 1967 89 min, 111.4° Reentered
OPS 4204 OPS 4204 02687 1967-016A NRO/SAFSP Feb 24, 1967 89 min, 107.0° Reentered
OPS 8968 OPS 8968 02618 1966-113A NRO/SAFSP Dec 14, 1966 89 min, 109.6° Reentered
OPS 4096 OPS 4096 02433 · NRO/SAFSP Sep 28, 1966 · Reentered
OPS 3014 OPS 3014 02376 1966-069A NRO/SAFSP Jul 29, 1966 89 min, 94.1° Reentered

Frequently asked questions

How many KH-8 satellites are there?

The catalog lists 49 objects built on the KH-8 bus. 0 are in orbit and 49 have reentered.

How many KH-8 satellites are in orbit?

0 KH-8 objects are currently in orbit, of which 0 carry an active status.

Who builds the KH-8 bus?

The KH-8 bus is most commonly built by LMSC.

When did the first KH-8 satellite launch?

The first cataloged KH-8 satellite launched in 1966, and the most recent in 1984.

Satellite data compiled by KeepTrack from CelesTrak, Space-Track, and GCAT, provided under CC BY-NC 4.0.