Yaogan

Yaogan
遥感卫星
Yáogǎn Wèixīng
Model of Yaogan 2
Program overview
CountryChina People's Republic of China
OrganizationSAST
CAST
PurposeReconnaissance
StatusActive
Program history
First flight26 April 2006
Successes144
Failures1
Launch site(s)
Vehicle information
Launch vehicle(s)

Yaogan (simplified Chinese: 遥感卫星; traditional Chinese: 遙感衞星; pinyin: Yáogǎn Wèixīng; lit. 'Remote Sensing Satellite') is the cover name used by the People's Republic of China to refer to its military reconnaissance satellites.[1][2] Yaogan satellites are largely known to primarily support the People's Liberation Army's Strategic Support Force (PLASSF), formerly the Aerospace Reconnaissance Bureau of the Second Department of the General Staff.[3][4][5] The Yaogan program is the successor to the Fanhui Shi Weixing (FSW) recoverable reconnaissance satellite program but, unlike its predecessor, includes a variety of classes utilizing various means of remote sensing such as optical reconnaissance, synthetic-aperture radar (SAR), and electronic intelligence (ELINT) for maritime surveillance. Yaogan satellites have been launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) in Shanxi province, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in Inner Mongolia, Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in Sichuan province and the Wenchang Space Launch Site (WSLS) in Hainan province.[6]

Although individual Yaogan satellites are often referred to by their number (e.g. Yaogan-18), Chinese military reconnaissance satellites are typically categorized by their military Jianbing designation. Jianbing (尖兵) translates to "point soldier", "vanguard", or "pioneer" and entered use in satellite designations with China's very first series of reconnaissance satellites, FSW-0, as the Jianbing-1 series. The first Yaogan satellite, Yaogan 1, is one of three Jianbing-5 (JB-5) series satellites following the final FSW-3 satellites of the Jianbing-4 (JB-4) series. Because Jianbing designations are secret and only Yaogan numbers are officially used, the Jianbing designations for later classes still remains unknown to the public.

Classes[edit]

Synthetic-aperture radar[edit]

Chinese synthetic-aperture radar (SAR, Chinese: 合成孔径雷达; pinyin: héchéng kǒngjìng léidá) sensor development began in the late 1970s under the Electronic Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) resulting in the testing of the first airborne X-band mono-polarization SAR collection in 1981. By 1994, CAS had introduced its first operational, real-time airborne SAR system to monitor flooding and transmit collected data to ground stations.[7] Preliminary research and development of China's first-generation, space-based SAR system began sometime in the 1980s with development beginning in full in 1991. High-resolution, space-based SAR collection has been ambitiously pursued by the PLA for its potential contributions to all-weather targeting of naval forces in the Taiwan Strait.[7]

Jianbing-5 series satellites (abbreviated "JB-5") are China's first space-based SAR satellites and the first satellites in the Yaogan program. The development and production of the Jianbing-5 series of satellites have been entirely funded by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) as the ability to penetrate the seemingly constant cloud cover present in the southern provinces of Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guandgong, and Hainan challenges traditional optical collection in those regions.[8] The PLA also believes that in a potential war SAR collection capabilities will be vital to information dominance by mapping terrain, identifying targets through cloud cover, rain, fog, and dust, and potentially monitoring enemy submarines in shallow waters or targets in subterranean facilities.[7] In May 1995, the finalized designs were approved and development began in earnest with the approval of the State Science & Technology Committee (SSTC) and Commission for Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND).[7] The CAS Institute of Electronics built the SAR instruments onboard Jianbing-5 satellites, the craft itself designed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) which also develops the Long March 4B launch vehicle. Other developers involved in the project are the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST or 5th Space Academy) 501st and 504th Institutes, the China Electronics Technology Group's (CETC) Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology (known also as the 14th Institute), the Southwest Institute of Electronic Equipment (SWIEE or 29th Institute), and the Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics (BUAA).[7] SAST is also the developer of the Feng Yun series of weather satellites.[7]

Jianbing-5 satellites are built by SAST and launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) and provide military analysts synthetic-radar imagery purportedly at a spatial resolution as sharp as 5 meters over the L-band (1–2 GHz).[9] JB-5 satellites have been confirmed to have an electronic motor-powered solar panel which can be expanded and contracted by the ground control station. Jianbing-5 class satellites have a reported mass of 2,700 kilograms, orbital inclination of approximately 97° in Sun-synchronous orbit, and with two operational satellites enjoys a twice daily revisit rate at a 45° viewing angle.[8][10] Between April 2006 and August 2010, China launched three Jianbing-5 SAR satellites, the last two of which remain in operation from TSLC. Yaogan 1, launched in April 2006, reportedly broke up around 4 February 2010 almost four years after its launch.[9] Due to the small number of pieces and low orbital speeds, the breakup was likely due to an internal explosion, not a high-speed collision.[11]

Yaogan 29, launched in November 2015 into a similar orbit, appears to be the modernized successor to the Jianbing-5 series of SAR satellites.[8]

The Jianbing-7 class of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-7", are Chinese military radar reconnaissance satellites built by SAST with an orbital period of 97 minutes and a side-looking radar system designed by the CAS's Institute of Electronics. As of July 2022, China has launched four Jianbing-7 radar satellites with the first launched in April 2009 and the latest in November 2014 with a mass of 1,200 kilograms (2,600 pounds) from TSLC.[10][12] The third satellite of the Jianbing-7 class, launched in October 2013, had its orbit lowered from April to July 2020 and consequently underwent an uncontrolled decay reentering the atmosphere in 2021.[13]

Although the Jianbing designation is still unknown for latest class of SAR reconnaissance satellites, China has launched three satellites of a modernized successor class to the Jianbing-5 and Jianbing-7 classes of SAR reconnaissance satellites. This class uses the same orbit as the Jianbing-5 class but likely has a different design according to published illustrations.[14] The second satellite of this class, Yaogan 33, failed to reach orbit in May 2019. Its likely replacement, Yaogan 33R, was launched a year and a half later but used different launch site (Jiuquan instead of Taiyuan) and into a higher orbit (682 km × 686 km).[14]

Electro-optical[edit]

The Jianbing-6 class of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-6", provides the Chinese military optical imaging capabilities to compliment the Jianbing-5 class's SAR reconnaissance capabilities.[15] It has been reported that satellites of the Jianbing-6 class have a resolution of 0.8 meters.[9] Jianbing-6 satellites were developed by CAST based on the CAST2000 satellites bus originally developed by the China SpaceSat Company Ltd. Jianbing-6 satellites image the Earth with a spatial resolution of approximately 1.5 meters and transmit them via X-band receiving telemetry, tracking, and command signals over the S-band. As of July 2022, China individually launched six Yaogan satellites of the Jianbing-6 class into low Earth orbit (LEO) with the first satellite launched in May 2006 and the latest in May 2016.[10] The Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities signed a US$140 million deal with China Great Wall Industries Co. Ltd. to launch the Venezuelan Remote-Sensing Satellite 1 (VRSS-1) in May 2011 marking China's first export of a reconnaissance satellite. VRSS-1 was based on the design of Jianbing-6 satellites and was launched on 29 September 2012 from JSLC.[10]

The Jianbing-9 class of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-9" provides the Chinese military with optical imaging capabilities, likely as a successor to the Jianbing-6 class, thought it does orbit at a much higher altitude at 1,200 km indicating that satellites of this class are lower-resolution mapping and area surveillance satellites.[10][16][17] The optical payload of Yaogan satellites in the Jianbing-9 class was developed by the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics, and Physics.[17][18] China has launched five individual Yaogan satellites of the Jianbing-9 class with the first launched in December 2009 and the latest in August 2015 from TSLC.[10]

The Jianbing-10 class of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-10" provides the Chinese military with optical imaging capabilities.[19] Believed to also be based on the CAST2000 satellite bus, like those of the Jianbing-6 class, three Jianbing-10-class satellites built by CAST and carrying an optical imaging system from the Xian Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics have been individually launched with the first launched in December 2008 and the reported last of the class in September 2014 from TSLC.[19][20]

The Jianbing-11 class of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-11" provides the Chinese military with optical imaging capabilities.[21] As of May 2022, China has launched two individually launched Yaogan satellites of the Jianbing-11 class with the first launched in May 2012 and the latest in November 2015.[21]

The Jianbing-12 class of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-12", are military optical reconnaissance satellites.[22]

Launch of Yaogan-36 on 27 November 2022

Electronic intelligence[edit]

In response to Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui's visit to the United States in 1995, the PRC initiated the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis conducting high-profile missile tests, amphibious landing drills, and troop staging in Fujian Province, across the strait from the island of Taiwan.[23] The United States government responded to the PRC's escalation by deploying the largest American show of force since the Vietnam War including sending two American carrier battle groups which effectively forced the PRC to deescalate.[24][25][26][27] Since then, the PLA has committed to design and field advanced anti-ship missile systems including the Dong Feng 21 and has deployed nearly sixty maritime surveillance satellites using electronic intelligence (ELINT) to locate, identify, and track adversarial vessels to support targeting.[28][29]

The Jianbing-8 class of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-8", consist of one primary satellite and two sub-satellites launched in triplets. These satellites reportedly perform an ocean or naval surveillance mission similar to those of the United States' Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS or PARCAE) despite the Chinese state-media's insistence they were designed to "conduct electromagnetic environmental monitoring and related technology tests".[29][30] The triplet groups likely fly in a loose formation to locate radio emitters using the difference in time of arrival of radio signals at the different satellites. Jianbing-8 satellites are based on the CAST2000 satellites bus and have a mass of 200 kilograms (440 pounds) and an orbital period of 107.10 minutes in LEO.[9][31][32] As of May 2022, there have been nine launches of Jianbing-8 triplets (twenty-seven total satellites) from JSLC with the first triplet launching in March 2010 and the latest in March 2021.

The CX-5 or Chuangxin-5 (simplified Chinese: 创新; traditional Chinese: 創新; pinyin: Chuàngxīn; lit. 'Innovation') class of satellites, the only known Yaogan satellites to have been launched at Xichang SLC, are still largely shrouded in secrecy and their purpose is only speculated to be ELINT by nature of their triplet launches, similar to satellites of the Jianbing-8 class.

Satellites[edit]

Name Military
designation
Launch Function Orbit Orbital Apsis Inclination SCN COSPARID Contractor Launcher Launch site Status
Yaogan 1 JB-5-1 26 April 2006 SAR SSO 635 km × 637 km 97.9° 29092 2006-015A SAST Long March 4B TSLC Decayed
Yaogan 2 JB-6-1 25 May 2007 EO SSO 639 km × 663 km 97.9° 31490 2007-019A CAST Long March 2D JSLC Operational
Yaogan 3 JB-5-2 11 November 2007 SAR SSO 635 km × 637 km 97.8° 32289 2007-055A SAST Long March 4C TSLC Operational
Yaogan 4 JB-6-2 1 December 2008 EO SSO 642 km × 660 km 97.9° 33446 2008-061A CAST Long March 2D JSLC Operational
Yaogan 5 JB-10-1 15 December 2008 EO SSO 494 km × 501 km 97.3° 33456 2008-064A CAST Long March 4B TSLC Decayed
Yaogan 6 JB-7-1 22 April 2009 SAR SSO 518 km × 519 km 97.6° 34839 2009-021A SAST Long March 2C TSLC Operational
Yaogan 7 JB-6-3 9 December 2009 EO SSO 630 km × 666 km 97.8° 36110 2009-069A CAST Long March 2D JSLC Operational
Yaogan 8 JB-9-1 15 December 2009 EO SSO 1200 km × 1212 km 100.5° 36121 2009-072A SAST Long March 4C TSLC Operational
Yaogan 9A JB-8-1A 5 March 2010 ELINT LEO 781.2 km × 1412.8 km 63.4° 36413 2010-009A CAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 9B JB-8-1B LEO 781.2 km × 1412.6 km 63.4° 36414 2010-009B Operational
Yaogan 9C JB-8-1C LEO 780.6 km × 1413.2 km 63.4° 36415 2010-009C Operational
Yaogan 10 JB-5-3 9 August 2010 SAR SSO 629 km × 627 km 97.8° 36834 2010-038A SAST Long March 4C TSLC Operational
Yaogan 11 JB-6-4 22 September 2010 EO SSO 670 km × 625 km 98.0° 37165 2010-047A CAST Long March 2D JSLC Operational
Yaogan 12 JB-10-2 9 November 2011 EO SSO 479 km × 495 km 97.3° 37875 2011-066B CAST Long March 4B TSLC Operational
Yaogan 13 JB-7-2 29 November 2011 SAR SSO 502 km × 504 km 97.4° 37941 2011-072A SAST Long March 2C TSLC Operational
Yaogan 14 JB-11-1 10 May 2012 EO SSO 471 km × 474 km 97.3° 38257 2012-021A CAST Long March 4B TSLC Operational
Yaogan 15 JB-9-2 29 May 2012 EO SSO 1198 km × 1204 km 100.2° 38354 2012-029A SAST Long March 4C TSLC Operational
Yaogan 16A JB-8-2A 25 November 2012 ELINT LEO 855.0 km × 1338.9 Km 63.4° 39011 2012-066A CAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 16B JB-8-2B LEO 855.1 km × 1338.9 km 63.4° 39012 2012-066B Operational
Yaogan 16C JB-8-2C LEO 855.1 km × 1338.9 km 63.4° 39013 2012-066C Operational
Yaogan 17A JB-8-3A 1 September 2013 ELINT LEO 867.2 km × 1326.8 km 63.4° 39239 2013-046A SAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 17B JB-8-3B LEO 867.3 km × 1326.9 km 63.4° 39240 2013-046B Operational
Yaogan 17C JB-8-3C LEO 866.6 km × 63.4 km 63.4° 39241 2013-046C Operational
Yaogan 18 JB-7-3 29 October 2013 SAR SSO 509 km × 514 km 97.5° 39363 2013-059A SAST Long March 2C TSLC Decayed
Yaogan 19 JB-9-3 20 November 2013 EO SSO 1119 km × 1204 km 100.4° 39410 2013-065A SAST Long March 4C TSLC Operational
Yaogan 20A JB-8-4A 9 August 2014 ELINT LEO 893.5 km × 1300.5 km 63.4° 40109 2014-047A CAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 20B JB-8-4B LEO 893.5 km × 1300.5 km 63.4° 40110 2014-047B Operational
Yaogan 20C JB-8-4C LEO 893.4 km × 1300.6 km 63.4° 40111 2014-047C Operational
Yaogan 21 JB-10-3 8 September 2014 EO SSO 481 km × 492 km 97.4° 40143 2014-053A CAST Long March 4B TSLC Operational
Yaogan 22 JB-9-4 20 October 2014 EO SSO 1198 km × 1207 km 100.3° 40275 2014-063A SAST Long March 4C TSLC Operational
Yaogan 23 JB-7-4 14 November 2014 SAR SSO 511 km × 513 km 97.3° 40305 014-071A SAST Long March 2C TSLC Operational
Yaogan 24 JB 6-5 20 November 2014 EO SSO 629 km × 654 km 97.9° 40310 2014-072A CAST Long March 2D JSLC Operational
Yaogan 25A JB-8-5A 10 December 2014 ELINT LEO 912.0 km × 1282.0 km 63.4° 40338 2014-080A CAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 25B JB-8-5B LEO 912.0 km × 1282.0 km 63.4° 40339 2014-080B Operational
Yaogan 25C JB-8-5C LEO 912.0 km × 1282.1 km 63.4° 40340 2014-080C Operational
Yaogan 26 JB-12-1 27 December 2014 EO SSO 482 km × 488 km 97.4° 40362 2014-088A CAST Long March 4B TSLC Operational
Yaogan 27 JB-9-5 27 August 2015 EO SSO 1201 km × 1214 km 100.4° 40878 2015-040A SAST Long March 4C TSLC Operational
Yaogan 28 JB-11-2 8 November 2015 EO SSO 476 km × 490 km 97.3° 41026 2015-064A CAST Long March 4B TSLC Operational
Yaogan 29 JB-?-1 26 November 2015 SAR SSO 635 km × 636 km 97.9° 41038 2015-069A SAST Long March 4C TSLC Operational
Yaogan 30 JB-6-6 15 May 2016 EO SSO 634 km × 664 km 98.0° 41473 2016-029A CAST Long March 2D JSLC Operational
Yaogan 30-1A CX-5 29 September 2017 ELINT LEO 600.9 km × 603.7 km 35.0° 42945 2017-058A IAMCAS Long March 2C XSLC Operational
Yaogan 30-1B CX-5 LEO 599.8 km × 604.8 km 35.0° 42946 2017-058B Operational
Yaogan 30-1C CX-5 LEO 598.0 km × 606.4 km 35.0° 42947 2017-058C Operational
Yaogan 30-2A CX-5 24 November 2017 ELINT LEO 600.3 km × 604.2 km 35.0° 43028 2017-075A IAMCAS Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 30-2B CX-5 LEO 598.9 km × 605.6 km 35.0° 43029 2017-075B Operational
Yaogan 30-2C CX-5 LEO 599.8 km × 604.9 km 35.0° 43030 2017-075C Operational
Yaogan 30-3A CX-5 25 December 2017 ELINT LEO 599.4 km × 605.1 km 35.0° 43081 2017-085A IAMCAS Long March 2C XSLC Operational
Yaogan 30-3B CX-5 LEO 598.2 km × 606.0 km 35.0° 43082 2017-085B Operational
Yaogan 30-3C CX-5 LEO 598.6 km × 605.9 km 35.0° 43083 2017-085C Operational
Yaogan 30-4A CX-5 25 January 2018 ELINT LEO 597.7 km × 606.9 km 35.0° 43170 2018-011A IAMCAS Long March 2C XSLC Operational
Yaogan 30-4B CX-5 LEO 600.3 km × 604.3 km 35.0° 43171 2018-011B Operational
Yaogan 30-4C CX-5 LEO 600.3 km × 604.3 km 35.0° 43172 2018-011C Operational
Yaogan 31A JB-8 6A 10 April 2018 ELINT LEO 980.4 km × 1213.5 km 63.4° 43275 2018-034A CAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 31B JB-8 6B LEO 980.4 km × 1213.5 km 63.4° 43276 2018-034B Operational
Yaogan 31C JB-8 6C LEO 980.4 km × 1213.5 km 63.4° 43277 2018-034C Operational
Yaogan 32A Unknown 9 October 2018 EO SSO 700.2 km × 702.3 km 98.1° 43642 2018-077A CAST Long March 2C/YZ-1S JSLC Operational
Yaogan 32B Unknown SSO 700.3 km × 702.1 km 98.1° 43643 2018-077B Operational
Yaogan 33 JB-?-2 22 May 2019 SAR (Launch Failure) SAST Long March 4C TSLC Failed
Yaogan 30-5A CX-5 25 July 2019 ELINT LEO 598.7 km × 606.0 km 35.0° 44449 2019-045A IAMCAS Long March 2C XSLC Operational
Yaogan 30-5B CX-5 LEO 595.8 km × 608.7 km 35.0° 44450 2019-045B Operational
Yaogan 30-5C CX-5 LEO 601.5 km × 603.1 km 35.0° 44451 2019-045C Operational
Yaogan 30-6A CX-5 24 March 2020 ELINT LEO 598.7 km × 605.7 km 35.0° 45460 2020-021A IAMCAS Long March 2C XSLC Operational
Yaogan 30-6B CX-5 LEO 600.0 km × 604.6 35.0° 45461 2020-021B Operational
Yaogan 30-6C CX-5 LEO 601.0 km × 603.5 km 35.0° 45462 2020-021C Operational
Yaogan 30-7A CX-5 26 October 2020 ELINT LEO 602.0 km × 602.6 km 35.0° 46807 2020-076A IAMCAS Long March 2C XSLC Operational
Yaogan 30-7B CX-5 LEO 600.2 km × 604.3 km 35.0° 46808 2020-076B Operational
Yaogan 30-7C CX-5 LEO 597.9 km × 606.6 km 35.0° 46809 2020-076C Operational
Yaogan 33R JB-?-3 27 December 2020 SAR SSO 683 km × 686 km 98.3° 47302 2020-103A SAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 31D JB-8 6D 29 January 2021 ELINT LEO 1054.6 km × 1139.3 km 63.4° 47532 2021-007A CAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 31E JB-8 6E LEO 1054.4 km × 1139.6 km 63.4° 47533 2021-007B Operational
Yaogan 31F JB-8 6F LEO 1058.4 km × 1142.6 km 63.4° 47536 2021-007C Operational
Yaogan 31G JB-8 6G 24 February 2021 ELINT LEO 1053.9 km × 1140.1 km 63.4° 47691 2021-014A CAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 31H JB-8 6H LEO 1063.3 km 63.4° 47692 2021-014B Operational
Yaogan 31J JB-8 6J LEO 1053.7 km × 1140.2 km 63.4° 47695 2021-014C Operational
Yaogan 31K JB-8 6K 13 March 2021 ELINT LEO 1063.2 km × 1140.9 km 63.4° 47855 2021-020B CAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 31L JB-8 6L LEO 1063.2 km × 1140.9 km 63.4° 47855 2021-020C Operational
Yaogan 31M JB-8 6M LEO 1055.5 km × 1138.4 km 63.4° 47857 2021-020D Operational
Yaogan 34 Unknown 30 April 2021 EO LEO 1083 km × 1105 km 63.4° 48340 2021-037A SAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 30-8A CX-5 6 May 2021 ELINT LEO 599.1 km × 605.5 km 35.0° 48423 2021-039A IAMCAS Long March 2C XSLC Operational
Yaogan 30-8B CX-5 LEO 598.9 km × 605.7 km 35.0° 48424 2021-039B Operational
Yaogan 30-8C CX-5 LEO 600.8 km × 603.8 km 35.0° 48425 2021-039C Operational
Yaogan 30-9A CX-5 18 June 2021 ELINT LEO 598.9 km × 605.6 km 35.0° 48860 2021-055A IAMCAS Long March 2C XSLC Operational
Yaogan 30-9B CX-5 LEO 599.0 km × 605.5 km 35.0° 48861 2021-055B Operational
Yaogan 30-9C CX-5 LEO 598.6 km × 605.9 km 35.0° 48863 2021-055D Operational
Yaogan 30-10A CX-5 19 July 2021 ELINT LEO 598.7 km × 606.0 km 35.0° 49026 2021-065A IAMCAS Long March 2C XSLC Operational
Yaogan 30-10B CX-5 LEO 591.8 km × 604.1 km 35.0° 49027 2021-065B Operational
Yaogan 30-10C CX-5 LEO 601.7 km × 603.0 km 35.0° 49028 2021-065C Operational
Yaogan 32-2A Unknown 3 November 2021 SIGINT SSO 700.6 km × 702.8 km 98.1° 49383 2021-099A Unknown Long March 2C/YZ-1S JSLC Operational
Yaogan 32-2B Unknown SSO 700.8 km × 702.7 km 98.1° 49384 2021-099B Operational
Yaogan 35A Unknown 6 November 2021 Unknown LEO 501.2 km × 506.4 km 35.0° 49390 2021-101A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 35B Unknown LEO 499.8 km × 507.8 km 35.0° 49391 2021-101B Operational
Yaogan 35C Unknown LEO 459.3 km × 463.5 km 35.0° 49392 2021-101C Operational
Yaogan 34-2 Unknown 17 March 2022 EO LEO 1083 km × 1105 km 63.38° 52084 2022-027A SAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 35 02-A Unknown 23 June 2022 ELINT LEO 499 km × 508 km 35.0° 52907 2022-068A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 35 02-B Unknown LEO 498 km × 509 km 35.0° 52908 2022-068B Operational
Yaogan 35 02-C Unknown LEO 496 km × 506 km 35.0° 52909 2022-068C Operational
Yaogan 35 03-A Unknown 29 July 2022 ELINT LEO 499 km × 508.6 km 35.0° 53316 2022-088A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 35 03-B Unknown LEO 496.6 km × 511.2 km 35.0° 53317 2022-088B Operational
Yaogan 35 03-C Unknown LEO 497.5 km × 510.4 km 35.0° 53318 2022-088C Operational
Yaogan 35 04-A Unknown 19 August 2022 ELINT LEO 491 km × 502 km 35.0° 53522 2022-100A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 35 04-B Unknown LEO 490 km × 502 km 35.0° 53523 2022-100B Operational
Yaogan 35 04-C Unknown LEO 488 km × 500 km 35.0° 53524 2022-100C Operational
Yaogan 33-02 Unknown 2 September 2022 SAR SSO 688 km × 680 km 98.18° 53698 2022-106A SAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 35 05-A Unknown 6 September 2022 ELINT LEO 502 km × 491 km 35.0° 53760 2022-109A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 35 05-B Unknown LEO 501 km × 488 km 35.0° 53761 2022-109B Operational
Yaogan 35 05-C Unknown LEO 501 km × 489 km 35.0° 53762 2022-109C Operational
Yaogan 36A Unknown 26 September 2022 Unknown LEO 499 km × 486 km 35.0° 53943 2022-120A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 36B Unknown LEO 499 km × 488 km 35.0° 53946 2022-120B Operational
Yaogan 36C Unknown LEO 498 km × 485 km 35.0° 53947 2022-120C Operational
Yaogan 36 02-A Unknown 14 October 2022 ELINT LEO 499 km × 487 km 35.0° 54042 2022-133A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 36 02-B Unknown LEO 498 km × 486 km 35.0° 54043 2022-133B Operational
Yaogan 36 02-C Unknown LEO 498 km × 485 km 35.0° 54044 2022-133C Operational
Yaogan 34-3 Unknown 15 November 2022 Unknown LEO 1,080.2 km × 1,103.6 km 63.4° 54249 2022-154A SAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 36 03-A Unknown 27 November 2022 ELINT LEO 501.3 km 511.2 km 35.0° 54372 2022-160A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 36 03-B Unknown LEO 493.6 km × 505.5 km 35.0° 54373 2022-160B Operational
Yaogan 36 03-C Unknown LEO 500.9 km 509.7 km 35.0° 54374 2022-160C Operational
Yaogan 36 04-A Unknown 14 December 2022 ELINT LEO 500.3 km × 511.2 km 35.0° 54746 2022-171A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 36 04-B Unknown LEO 495.8 km × 507.0 km 35.0° 54747 2022-171B Operational
Yaogan 36 04-C Unknown LEO 502.2 km × 510.3 km 35.0° 54748 2022-171C Operational
Yaogan 37 Unknown 13 January 2023 Unknown LEO 518.6 km × 526.3 km 43.2° 55244 2023-006C SAST Long March 2D JSLC Operational
Yaogan 34-4 Unknown 31 March 2023 Unknown LEO 1088.4 km × 105.3 km 63.4° 56157 2023-048A SAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 36 05-A Unknown 26 July 2023 ELINT LEO 508.7 km × 498.6 km 35.0° 57452 2023-106A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 36 05-B Unknown LEO 508.2 km × 498.0 km 35.0° 57454 2023-106C Operational
Yaogan 36 05-C Unknown LEO 507.2 km × 495.0 km 35.0° 57456 2023-106E Operational
Yaogan 39-01A Unknown 31 August 2023 ELINT LEO 496.4km×510.3km 35.0 ° 57727 2023-130A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 39-01B Unknown LEO 496.5km×508.8km 35.0 ° 57728 2023-130B Operational
Yaogan 39-01C Unknown LEO 491.2km×512.4km 35.0 ° 57731 2023-130E Operational
Yaogan 33-03 Unknown 6 September 2023 SAR SSO 703.2km×701.9km 98.2° 57797 2023-136A SAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 40-01A Unknown 10 September 2023 Unknown LEO 803.1km×818.1km 86.0° 57830 2023-139A CAST Long March 6A TSLC Operational
Yaogan 40-01B Unknown LEO 801.9km×821.2km 86.0° 57832 2023-139C Operational
Yaogan 40-01C Unknown LEO 774.9km×813.2km 86.0° 57833 2023-139D Operational
Yaogan 39-02A Unknown 17 September 2023 ELINT LEO 500km×491km 35.0° 57886 2023-145A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 39-02B Unknown LEO 497km×485km 35.0° 57887 2023-145B Operational
Yaogan 39-02C Unknown LEO 496km×483km 35.0° 57888 2023-145C Operational
Yaogan 33-04 Unknown 26 September 2023 SAR SSO 695.6km×692.3km 98.1° 57958 2023-149A SAST Long March 4C JSLC Operational
Yaogan 39-03A Unknown 5 October 2023 ELINT LEO 501km×491km 35.0° 57986 2023-152A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 39-03B Unknown LEO 502km×489km 35.0° 57987 2023-152B Operational
Yaogan 39-03C Unknown LEO 501km×490km 35.0° 57988 2023-152C Operational
Yaogan 39-04A Unknown 23 October 2023 ELINT LEO 502km×491km 35.0° 58141 2023-163A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 39-04B Unknown LEO 502km×489km 35.0° 58143 2023-163C Operational
Yaogan 39-04C Unknown LEO 501km×489km 35.0° 58145 2023-163E Operational
Yaogan 39-05A Unknown 10 December 2023 ELINT LEO 502km×491km 35.0° 58557 2023-194A CAST
SAST
Long March 2D XSLC Operational
Yaogan 39-05B Unknown LEO 500km×489km 35.0° 58558 2023-194B Operational
Yaogan 39-05C Unknown LEO 501km×489km 35.0° 58559 2023-194C Operational
Yaogan 41 Unknown 15 December 2023 EO GSO 35839 km × 35732 km 4.97° 58582 2023-197A CAST Long March 5 WSLS Operational
Table data sourced from previously cited references, "CalSky". calsky.com. CalSky. Retrieved 9 November 2016. and "Real Time Satellite Tracking". n2yo.com. N2YO. Retrieved 9 November 2016."Yaogan 30-01, ..., 30-07 (CX 5)". Gunter's Space Page. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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