CLASSIFIED
YAOGAN-4
Earth Observation (Dual-Use) · CNSA / PLA
Right now
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Part of China's space-based ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) system. The Yaogan fleet's rapid expansion from 2006 represents one of the most significant shifts in satellite surveillance capability this century — China going from minimal space observation to near-continuous global coverage in under two decades.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 380–394 mi (612–634 km)
- Inclination
- 97.9°
- One orbit
- 97.0 minutes14.8 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 33446
- Int’l designator
- 2008-061A
- Launched
- 2008
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
More classified
- YAOGAN-40 01AChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (Polar Orbit, Next-Gen)
- YAOGAN-40 01BChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (Polar Orbit, Next-Gen)
- YAOGAN-40 01CChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (Next-Gen Triplet)
- YAOGAN-40 02AChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (Polar Orbit Triplet)
- YAOGAN-40 02BChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (Polar Orbit Triplet)
- YAOGAN-40 02CChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (Polar Orbit Triplet)