Science
HJ-2A
Chinese Disaster Monitoring Satellite · CNSA / MEE (China)
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HJ-2A exists because of a disaster. After the catastrophic 2008 Sichuan earthquake left China's rescue teams blind in mountain valleys where roads and communications had vanished, China accelerated an entire satellite program specifically to never be caught that unprepared again. HJ-2A carries hyperspectral and infrared sensors that can spot a wildfire's heat signature or a flooded village from orbit within hours of a disaster striking, feeding directly into China's national emergency response system.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 399–402 mi (642–646 km)
- Inclination
- 97.9°
- One orbit
- 97.5 minutes14.8 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 46478
- Int’l designator
- 2020-067A
- Launched
- 2020
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.