Science
DMC3-FM1
UK-Built Disaster Monitoring Satellite (Now Chinese-Operated) · SSTL (UK) — now operated by 21AT (China)
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DMC3-FM1, one of three identical 1-meter resolution satellites built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd for the UK's DMC3 constellation, launched in 2015 to provide rapid disaster-response imagery worldwide. The three-satellite constellation was later sold to China's 21st Century Aerospace Technology and now operates commercially as the Chinese-controlled 'Beijing-3' imaging constellation — a striking example of Western-built Earth observation hardware changing national ownership after launch.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 379–385 mi (610–620 km)
- Inclination
- 97.6°
- One orbit
- 96.9 minutes14.9 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 40715
- Int’l designator
- 2015-032A
- Launched
- 2015
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
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