CLASSIFIED
YAOGAN-21
Earth Observation (Dual-Use) · CNSA / PLA
Right now
LiveIt moves every second. See exactly where it is — worked out from its orbit, on your own device — on the live 3D globe.
- Over
- —
- Altitude
- —
- Speed
- —
A member of China's Yaogan Earth observation constellation, contributing to the comprehensive global surveillance capability that has made China the second nation capable of monitoring every major port, military installation, and industrial facility on Earth from orbit on a near-daily basis.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 299–307 mi (481–494 km)
- Inclination
- 97.1°
- One orbit
- 94.2 minutes15.3 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 40143
- Int’l designator
- 2014-053A
- Launched
- 2014
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
More classified
- YAOGAN-22Earth Observation (Dual-Use)
- YAOGAN-24Earth Observation (Dual-Use)
- YAOGAN-25 01AChinese ELINT Naval Ocean Surveillance (JB-8 Triplet)
- YAOGAN-25 01BChinese ELINT Naval Ocean Surveillance (JB-8 Triplet)
- YAOGAN-25 01CChinese ELINT Naval Ocean Surveillance (JB-8 Triplet)
- YAOGAN-26Earth Observation (Dual-Use)