CLASSIFIED
JB-3 3 (ZY 2C)
Chinese Military Reconnaissance (Civilian Cover Name) · CASC / PLA
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JB-3 3 (Ziyuan-2C), part of China's Jianbing-3 reconnaissance satellite series — officially described as a civilian land resources survey satellite, but widely assessed by Western analysts as an optical military reconnaissance spacecraft. It's one of the earlier examples of China's long-running pattern of giving reconnaissance satellites civilian cover names.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 304–330 mi (489–532 km)
- Inclination
- 97.3°
- One orbit
- 94.7 minutes15.2 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 28470
- Int’l designator
- 2004-044A
- Launched
- 2004
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
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