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YAOGAN-30 05A

Chinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (Yaogan-30 Triplet) · CASC / PLA

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Lead satellite of the Yaogan-30 group 05 triplet, launched July 2019 — over a year after the program's rapid four-triplet initial rollout, marking a shift to a more measured, roughly annual replenishment cadence. This launch also served as a technology testbed: the Long March 2C rocket carrying it flew with four grid fins, an early Chinese experiment in the kind of controlled-descent technology needed for reusable rocket boosters.

Its orbit

Orbit
Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
Altitude
352–354 mi (566–570 km)
Inclination
35.0°
One orbit
95.9 minutes15.0 orbits a day
NORAD ID
43170
Int’l designator
2018-011B
Launched
2018

Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.

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