Geostationary
SHIYAN-12 01 (SY-12 01)
Chinese Technology Demonstrator (GEO) · CASC
Right now
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First of a pair of Chinese technology verification satellites in geostationary orbit. The Shiyan ('Experiment') designation covers an enormously wide range of actual missions — from genuine academic research payloads to operational military technology tests — making it one of China's most versatile classification covers. Shiyan-12 01 and 02 were launched together, suggesting coordinated capability testing requiring two platforms operating in concert from geostationary altitude.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Geostationaryappears to hang motionless over one spot on the equator
- Altitude
- 22,201–22,210 mi (35,728–35,744 km)
- Inclination
- 3.9°
- One orbit
- 23.9 hoursabout one orbit a day
- NORAD ID
- 50321
- Int’l designator
- 2021-129A
- Launched
- 2021
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
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