Yaogan
Yaogan (in full Yaogan Weixing (遥感卫星), "Remote Sensing Satellite"; sometimes written YaoGan) refers to a series of Chinese reconnaissance satellites launched in the early 21st century.
Chinese media describe the satellites as intended for "scientific experiments, land survey, crop yield assessment, and disaster monitoring". Western analysts suspect that they are also used for military purposes.[1] Analysts believe that each satellite employs either optical or synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors and that the SAR satellites are of the Jian Bing-5 series.[2]
The SAR satellite was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Space Flight Technology(SAST). The electro-optical digital imaging satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). It is carried into space atop a Chang Zheng (Long March) rocket.[3]
Yaogan satellites have been launched from both the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in China's northern Shanxi province and the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China's northwestern Gansu province.[4]
Launches
Three satellites of Yaogan 9A, Yaogan 9B, and Yaogan 9C were launched together with a Long March 4C from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, on March 5, 2010.[5]
Yaogan 11 was launched with Long March 2D from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, on September 22, 2010.
Yaogan 1 is believed to have broken up around February 4, 2010 almost four years after it was launched. Because of the small number of pieces and low orbital speeds, it was likely due to an internal explosion, not a high-speed collision.[6]
Name | Military designation |
Launch date |
Believed type |
Approximate orbit | NORAD ID |
International code |
Contractor | Launch site | Launcher |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yaogan 1 | JB-5-1 | April 27, 2006 | SAR | 635–637 km, 97.9 degrees | 29092 | 2006-015A | SAST | Taiyuan | Long March 4B |
Yaogan 2 | JB-6-1 | May 25, 2007 | Optical | 639–663 km, 97.9 degrees | 31490 | 2007-019A | CAST | Jiuquan | Long March 2D |
Yaogan 3 | JB-5-2 | November 12, 2007 | SAR | 635–637 km, 97.8 degrees | 32289 | 2007-055A | SAST | Taiyuan | Long March 4C |
Yaogan 4 | JB-6-2 | December 1, 2008 | Optical | 642–660 km, 97.9 degrees | 33446 | 2008-061A | CAST | Jiuquan | Long March 2D |
Yaogan 5 | JB-8-1 | December 15, 2008 | Optical | 494–501 km, 97.3 degrees | 33456 | 2008-064A | CAST | Taiyuan | Long March 4B |
Yaogan 6 | JB 7-1 | April 22, 2009 | SAR | 518–519 km, 97.6 degrees | 34839 | 2009-021A | SAST | Taiyuan | Long March 2C |
Yaogan 7 | JB-6-3 | December 9, 2009 | Optical | 630–666 km, 97.8 degrees | 36110 | 2009-069A | CAST | Jiuquan | Long March 2D |
Yaogan 8 | JB 9-1 | December 15, 2009 | Optical | 1200–1212 km, 100.5 degrees | 36121 | 2009-072A | SAST | Taiyuan | Long March 4C |
Yaogan 9A, Yaogan 9B, Yaogan 9C |
unknown | March 5, 2010 | Probable ELINT | 1089–1107 km, 63.4 degrees (Orbit of Yaogan 9C) |
36413, 36414, 36415 |
2010-009A, 2010-009B, 2010-009C |
CAST | Jiuquan | Long March 4C |
Yaogan 10 | JB 5-3 | August 10, 2010 | SAR | 629–627 km, 97.8 degrees | 36834 | 2010-038A | SAST | Taiyuan | Long March 4C |
Yaogan 11 | JB 6-4 | September 22, 2010 | Optical | 670–625 km, 98.0 degrees | 37165 | 2010-047A | CAST | Jiuquan | Long March 2D |
Yaogan 12 | JB 8-2 | November 9, 2011 | Optical | 479–495 km, 97.3 degrees | 37875 | 2011-066B | CAST | Taiyuan | Long March 4B |
Yaogan 13 | JB 7-2 | November 30, 2011 | SAR | 502–504 km, 97.4 degrees | 37941 | 2011-072A | SAST | Taiyuan | Long March 2C |
Yaogan 14 | May 10, 2012 | Optical | 471–474 km, 97.3 degrees | 38257 | 2012-021A | CAST | Taiyuan | Long March 4B | |
Yaogan 15 | JB 9-2 | May 29, 2012 | Optical | 1198–1204 km, 100.2 degrees | 38354 | 2012-029A | SAST | Taiyuan | Long March 4C |
Yaogan 16A, Yaogan 16B, Yaogan 16C |
November 25, 2012 | Probable ELINT | 1085–1096 km, 63.4 degrees | 39011, 39012, 39013 |
2012-066A, 2012-066B, 2012-066C |
CAST | Jiuquan | Long March 4C | |
Yaogan 17A, Yaogan 17B, Yaogan 17C |
September 1, 2013 | Probable ELINT | 1060–1119 km, 63.4 degrees | 39239, 39240, 39241 |
2013-046A, 2013-046B, 2013-046C |
SAST | Jiuquan | Long March 4C | |
Yaogan 18 | October 29, 2013 | SAR | 509 km, 97.5 degrees | 39363 | 2013-059A | SAST | Taiyuan | Long March 2C | |
Yaogan 19 | November 20, 2013 | Optical | 1119–1204 km, 100.4 degrees | 39410 | 2013-065A | SAST | Taiyuan | Long March 4C | |
Yaogan 20A, Yaogan 20B, Yaogan 20C |
August 9, 2014 | Probable ELINT | 1086–1092 km, 63.4 degrees | 40109, 40110, 40111 |
2014-047A, 2014-047B, 2014-047C |
CAST | Jiuquan | Long March 4C | |
Yaogan 21 | September 8, 2014 | Optical | 481–492 km, 97.4 degrees | 40143 | 2014-053A | CAST | Taiyuan | Long March 4B | |
Yaogan 22 | October 20, 2014 | Optical | 1198–1207 km, 100.3 degrees | 40275 | 2014-063A | SAST | Taiyuan | Long March 4C | |
Yaogan 23 | November 14, 2014 | SAR | 510–514 km, 97.3 degrees | 40305 | 2014-071A | SAST | Taiyuan | Long March 2C | |
Yaogan 24 | November 20, 2014 | Optical | 629–654 km, 97.9 degrees | 40310 | 2014-072A | CAST | Jiuquan | Long March 2D | |
Yaogan 25A, Yaogan 25B, Yaogan 25C |
December 10, 2014 | Probable ELINT | 1091–1098 km, 63.4 degrees | 40338, 40339, 40340 |
2014-080A, 2014-080B, 2014-080C |
CAST | Jiuquan | Long March 4C | |
Yaogan 26 | December 27, 2014 | Optical | 482–488 km, 97.4 degrees | 40362 | 2014-088A | CAST | Taiyuan | Long March 4B | |
Table data sourced from previously cited references, "CalSky". Web site. CalSky.com. Retrieved 2015-03-07. and "Real Time Satellite Tracking". Web site. N2YO.com. Retrieved 2015-03-07. |
See also
References
- ↑ Barbosa, Rui C. (April 22, 2009). "Chinese launch again with YaoGan Weixing-6 remote sensing satellite". News article. NasaSpaceflight.com. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
- ↑ "YaoGan Weixing / Remote Sensing Satellites". Web article. SinoDefence.com. February 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
- ↑ "China launches "Yaogan VI" remote-sensing satellite". News article. Xinhua. April 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
- ↑ "China Launches Yaogan-4 Satellite". Magazine article. Asian Surveying and Mapping. December 2, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
- ↑ "China launch YaoGan Weixing-9, announce increase in vehicle production". News article. NASA spaceflight.com. March 5, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
- ↑ "Yaogan 1 Erupts". Arms Control Wonk. February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
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