Yaogan
Yaogan (simplified Chinese: 遥感卫星; traditional Chinese: 遙感衞星; pinyin: Yáogǎn wèixīng; lit. 'Remote Sensing Satellite') is a broad term that refers to the various families of Chinese military reconnaissance satellites.
Although officially described as being used for scientific experiments, crop yield estimation, and disaster prevention, Yaogan satellites are largely known to primarily support Aerospace Reconnaissance Bureau of the Second Department of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).[1][2]
Mainland Chinese government officials claim Yaogan satellites are mainly used for scientific experiments, land survey, crop yield assessment, and disaster monitoring, however various Western sources claim that most serve a military reconnaissance role for the Aerospace Reconnaissance Bureau of the Second Department of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
Yaogan satellites have been launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) in China's northern Shanxi Province, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in Sichuan Province.[3]
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)[edit]
Jianbing 5[edit]
The Jianbing 5 family of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-5", are China's first space-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. These satellites, whose developmental funding was provided in full by the People's Liberation Army (PLA), are built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) and launched from the Taiyun Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) and provide military analysts radar imagery purportedly at a resolution as high as 5 meters over the L-band (1–2 GHz).[4] 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 family of satellites have a reported mass of 2,700 kilograms and an orbital inclination of approximately 97° in sun-synchronous orbit.[5] As of May 2022, China has launched eight individual Yaogan satellites of the Jianbing 5 family with the first launch in April 2006 and the most recent in November 2015. Yaogan 1, launched in April 2006, reportedly broke up around 4 February 2010 almost four years after its launch.[4] 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.[6]
Jianbing 7[edit]
The Jianbing 7 family of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-6", are Chinese military radar reconnaissance satellites with an orbital period of 97 minutes. As of May 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).
Unnamed Jianbing Family[edit]
Although the JB designation number is still unknown for this family, China has launched three satellites of a modernized successor family to the Jianbing 5 family of SAR reconnaissance satellites. This family uses the same orbit as the JB-5 family but likely has a different design according to published illustrations.[7] The second satellite of this family, Yaogan 33, failed to reach orbit in May of 2019. It's 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).[7]
Optical reconnaissance[edit]
Jianbing 6[edit]
The Jianbing 6 family of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-6", provides the Chinese military optical imaging capabilities to compliment the Jianbing 5 family's SAR reconnaissance capabilities.[8] It has been reported that the Jianbing 6 family have a resolution of 0.8 meters.[4] As of May 2022, China has launched five individually launched Yaogan satellites of the Jianbing 6 family with the first launched in May 2006 and the latest in May 2016.
Jianbing 9[edit]
The Jianbing 9 family 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 family.[9] The optical payload of Yaogan satellites in the Jianbing 9 family was developed by the Changchun Light Technology Institute.[10] As of May 2022, China has launched five individually launched Yaogan satellites of the Jianbing 9 family with the first launched in December 2009 and the latest in August 2015.
Jianbing 10[edit]
The Jianbing 10 family of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-10" provides the Chinese military with optical imaging capabilities, likely as a successor to the Jianbing 3 family.[11] As of May 2022, China has launched three individually launched Yaogan satellites of the Jianbing 10 family with the first launched in December 2008 and the reported last of the family in September 2014.[11]
Jianbing 11[edit]
The Jianbing 11 family of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-11" provides the Chinese military with optical imaging capabilities.[12] As of May 2022, China has launched two individually launched Yaogan satellites of the Jianbing 11 family with the first launched in May 2012 and the latest in November 2015.[12]
Jianbing 12[edit]
The Jianbing 12 family of Yaogan satellites, with military designations beginning with "JB-12", are military optical reconnaissance satellites.[13]
Ocean surveillance (ELINT)[edit]
Jianbing 8[edit]
The Jianbing 8 family 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 a ocean or naval surveillance mission similar to those of the United States' Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS or PARCAE). 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 have a mass of 200 kilograms (440 pounds) and an orbital period of 107.10 minutes.[4][14][15] As of May 2022, there have been nine launches of Jianbing 8 triplets (twenty-seven total satellites) with the first triplet launching in March 2010 and the latest in March 2021.
CX-5[edit]
All Yaogan satellites[edit]
| Satellite name | Military designation |
Launch date |
Function | Approximate orbit | NORAD ID |
COSPAR designator |
Contractor | Launch site | Launcher | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yaogan 1 | JB-5-1 | 27 April 2006 | SAR | 635 km–637 km, 97.9° | 29092 | 2006-015A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 4B | Decayed |
| Yaogan 2 | JB-6-1 | 25 May 2007 | Optical | 639 km–663 km, 97.9° | 31490 | 2007-019A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Yaogan 3 | JB-5-2 | 12 November 2007 | SAR | 635 km–637 km, 97.8° | 32289 | 2007-055A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 4 | JB-6-2 | 1 December 2008 | Optical | 642 km–660 km, 97.9° | 33446 | 2008-061A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Yaogan 5 | JB-10-1 | 15 December 2008 | Optical | 494 km–501 km, 97.3° | 33456 | 2008-064A | CAST | TSLC | Long March 4B | Decayed |
| Yaogan 6 | JB-7-1 | 22 April 2009 | SAR | 518 km–519 km, 97.6° | 34839 | 2009-021A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Yaogan 7 | JB-6-3 | 9 December 2009 | Optical | 630 km–666 km, 97.8° | 36110 | 2009-069A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Yaogan 8 | JB-9-1 | 15 December 2009 | Optical | 1200 km–1212 km, 100.5° | 36121 | 2009-072A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 9A | JB-8-1A | 5 March 2010 | ELINT | 1089 km–1107 km, 63.4° | 36413 | 2010-009A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 9B | JB-8-1B | 36414 | 2010-009B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 9C | JB-8-1C | 36415 | 2010-009C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 10 | JB-5-3 | 10 August 2010 | SAR | 629 km–627 km, 97.8° | 36834 | 2010-038A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 11 | JB-6-4 | 22 September 2010 | Optical | 670 km–625 km, 98.0° | 37165 | 2010-047A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Yaogan 12 | JB-10-2 | 9 November 2011 | Optical | 479 km–495 km, 97.3° | 37875 | 2011-066B | CAST | TSLC | Long March 4B | Operational |
| Yaogan 13 | JB-7-2 | 30 November 2011 | SAR | 502 km–504 km, 97.4° | 37941 | 2011-072A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Yaogan 14 | JB-11-1 | 10 May 2012 | Optical | 471 km–474 km, 97.3° | 38257 | 2012-021A | CAST | TSLC | Long March 4B | Operational |
| Yaogan 15 | JB-9-2 | 29 May 2012 | Optical | 1198 km–1204 km, 100.2° | 38354 | 2012-029A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 16A | JB-8-2A | 25 November 2012 | ELINT | 1085 km–1096 km, 63.4° | 39011 | 2012-066A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 16B | JB-8-2B | 39012 | 2012-066B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 16C | JB-8-2C | 39013 | 2012-066C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 17A | JB-8-3A | 1 September 2013 | ELINT | 1060 km–1119 km, 3.4° | 39239 | 2013-046A | SAST | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 17B | JB-8-3B | 39240 | 2013-046B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 17C | JB-8-3C | 39241 | 2013-046C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 18 | JB-7-3 | 29 October 2013 | SAR | 509 km, 97.5° | 39363 | 2013-059A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 2C | Decayed |
| Yaogan 19 | JB-9-3 | 20 November 2013 | Optical | 1119–1204 km, 100.4° | 39410 | 2013-065A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 20A | JB-8-4A | 9 August 2014 | ELINT | 1086–1092 km, 63.4° | 40109 | 2014-047A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 20B | JB-8-4B | 40110 | 2014-047B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 20C | JB-8-4C | 40111 | 2014-047C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 21 | JB-10-3 | 8 September 2014 | Optical | 481–492 km, 97.4° | 40143 | 2014-053A | CAST | TSLC | Long March 4B | Operational |
| Yaogan 22 | JB-9-4 | 20 October 2014 | Optical | 1198–1207 km, 100.3° | 40275 | 2014-063A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 23 | JB-7-4 | 14 November 2014 | SAR | 510–514 km, 97.3° | 40305 | 014-071A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Yaogan 24 | JB 6-5 | 20 November 2014 | Optical | 629–654 km, 97.9° | 40310 | 2014-072A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Yaogan 25A | JB-8-5A | 10 December 2014 | ELINT | 1091 km–1098 km, 63.4°s | 40338 | 2014-080A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 25B | JB-8-5B | 40339 | 2014-080B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 25C | JB-8-5C | 40340 | 2014-080C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 26 | JB-12-1 | 27 December 2014 | Optical | 482 km–488 km, 97.4° | 40362 | 2014-088A | CAST | TSLC | Long March 4B | Operational |
| Yaogan 27 | JB-9-5 | 27 August 2015 | Optical | 1201 km–1214 km, 100.4° | 40878 | 2015-040A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 28 | JB-11-2 | 8 November 2015 | Optical | 476 km–490 km, 97.3° | 41026 | 2015-064A | CAST | TSLC | Long March 4B | Operational |
| Yaogan 29 | JB-?-1 | 26 November 2015 | SAR | 635 km–636 km, 97.9° | 41038 | 2015-069A | SAST | TSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 30 | JB-6-6 | 15 May 2016 | Optical | 634 km–664 km, 98.0° | 41473 | 2016-029A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Yaogan 30-1A | CX-5 | 29 September 2017 | ELINT | 602 km–611 km, 35.0° | 42945 | 2017-058A | CAST | XSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Yaogan 30-1B | CX-5 | 42946 | 2017-058B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-1C | CX-5 | 42947 | 2017-058C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-2A | CX-5 | 24 November 2017 | ELINT | 603 km–610 km, 35.0° | 43028 | 2017-075A | CAST | XSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Yaogan 30-2B | CX-5 | 43029 | 2017-075B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-2C | CX-5 | 43030 | 2017-075C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-3A | CX-5 | 25 December 2017 | ELINT | 602 km–610 km, 35.0° | 43081 | 2017-085A | CAST | XSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Yaogan 30-3B | CX-5 | 43082 | 2017-085B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-3C | CX-5 | 43083 | 2017-085C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-4A | CX-5 | 25 January 2018 | ELINT | 602 km–610 km, 35.0° | 43170 | 2018-011A | CAST | XSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Yaogan 30-4B | CX-5 | 43171 | 2018-011B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-4C | CX-5 | 43172 | 2018-011C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 31A | JB-8 6A | 10 April 2018 | ELINT | 1085 km–1110 km, 63.4° | 43275 | 2018-034A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 31B | JB-8 6B | 43276 | 2018-034B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 31C | JB-8 6C | 43277 | 2018-034C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 32A | Unknown | 9 October 2018 | Optical | 701 km–703 km, 98.2° | 43642 | 2018-077A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 2C/YZ-1S | Operational |
| Yaogan 32B | Unknown | 43643 | 2018-077B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 33 | JB-?-2 | 23 May 2019 | SAR | (Launch Failure) | Unknown | TSLC | Long March 4C | Failed | ||
| Yaogan 30-5A | CX-5 | 25 July 2019 | ELINT | 602 km–609 km, 35.0° | 44449 | 2019-045A | CAST | XSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Yaogan 30-5B | CX-5 | 44450 | 2019-045B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-5C | CX-5 | 44451 | 2019-045C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-6A | CX-5 | 24 March 2020 | ELINT | 602 km–609 km, 35.0° | 45460 | 2020-021A | CAST | XSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Yaogan 30-6B | CX-5 | 45461 | 2020-021B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-6C | CX-5 | 45462 | 2020-021C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-7A | CX-5 | 26 October 2020 | ELINT | 595 km–612 km, 35.0° | 45807 | 2020-076A | CAST | XSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Yaogan 30-7B | CX-5 | 45808 | 2020-076B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-7C | CX-5 | 45809 | 2020-076C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 33R | JB-?-3 | 27 December 2020 | SAR | 683 km–686 km, 98.3° | 47302 | 2020-103A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 31D | JB-8 6D | 29 January 2021 | ELINT | 1090 km–1098 km, 63.4° | 47532 | 2021-007A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 31E | JB-8 6E | 47533 | 2021-007B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 31F | JB-8 6F | 47534 | 2021-007C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 31G | JB-8 6G | 24 February 2021 | ELINT | 1090 km–1100 km, 63.4° | 47691 | 2021-014A | CAST | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 31H | JB-8 6H | 47692 | 2021-014B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 31J | JB-8 6J | 47693 | 2021-014C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 31K | JB-8 6K | 13 March 2021 | ELINT | 1090 km–1098 km, 63.4° | 47855 | 2021-020B | CAST | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 31L | JB-8 6L | 47855 | 2021-020C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 31M | JB-8 6M | 47857 | 2021-020D | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 34 | Unknown | 30 April 2021 | Optical | 1083 km–1105 km, 63.4° | 48340 | 2021-037A | SAST | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Yaogan 30-8A | CX-5 | 6 May 2021 | ELINT | 591 km–602 km, 35.0° | 48423 | 2021-039A | CAST | XSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Yaogan 30-8B | CX-5 | 48424 | 2021-039B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-8C | CX-5 | 48425 | 2021-039C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-9A | CX-5 | 18 June 2021 | ELINT | 591 km–602 km, 35.0° | 48860 | 2021-055A | CAST | XSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Yaogan 30-9B | CX-5 | 48861 | 2021-055B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-9C | CX-5 | 48863 | 2021-055D | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-10A | CX-5 | 19 July 2021 | ELINT | 591 km–602 km, 35.0° | 49026 | 2021-065A | CAST | XSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Yaogan 30-10B | CX-5 | 49027 | 2021-065B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 30-10C | CX-5 | 49028 | 2021-065C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 32-2A | Unknown | 3 November 2021 | SIGINT | 689 km × 704 km, 98.27° | 49383 | 2021-099A | Unknown | JSLC | Long March 2C/YZ-1S | Operational |
| Yaogan 32-2B | Unknown | 49384 | 2021-099B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 35A | Unknown | 6 November 2021 | Unknown | Unknown | 49389 | 2021-101A | SAST | XSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Yaogan 35B | Unknown | 49390 | 2021-101B | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 35C | Unknown | 49391 | 2021-101C | Operational | ||||||
| Yaogan 34-2 | Unknown | 17 March 2022 | Optical | 1083 km × 1105 km, 63.38° | 52084 | 2022-027A | SAST | JSLC | Long March 4C | 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]
- ^ Barbosa, Rui C. (22 April 2009). "Chinese launch again with YaoGan Weixing-6 remote sensing satellite". nasaspaceflight.com. NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
- ^ "2006年4月27日 "遥感卫星一号"成功发射". www.xinhuanet.com. Xinhuanet. 27 April 2006. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "China Launches Yaogan-4 Satellite". Asian Surveying and Mapping magazine. 2 December 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d Cliff, Roger (2011). Ready for takeoff : China's advancing aerospace industry. Chad J. R. Ohlandt, David Yang, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Rand Corporation. National Security Research Division. Santa Monica, CA: Rand National Security Research Division. ISBN 978-0-8330-5208-7. OCLC 727359166.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter (11 December 2017). "Yaogan 1, 3, 10 (JB-5 1, 2, 3)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "Yaogan 1 Erupts". Arms Control Wonk. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "Yaogan 29, 33, 33R". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Krebs, Gunter (14 September 2020). "Yaogan 2, 4, 7, 11, 24, 30 (JB-6 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Yaogan 8, 15, 19, 22, 27 (JB-9 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Yaogan 8, 15, 19, 22, 27 (JB-9 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)". Gunter's Space Page.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Krebs, Gunter (21 July 2019). "Yaogan 5, 12, 21 (JB-10 1, 2, 3)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Krebs, Gunter (21 July 2019). "Yaogan 14, 28 (JB-11 1, 2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Krebs, Gunter (21 July 2019). "Yaogan 26 (JB-12 1)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "JB-8". Astronautix.
- ^ "Yaogan 9, 16, 17, 20, 25, 31 (JB-8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)". Gunter's Space Page. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
