Science
TIANHUI 4A
Chinese Military Stereo Mapping Satellite · CASC / PLA Navigation and Survey Bureau
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
- —
The first satellite of China's Tianhui-4 mapping series — 'Tianhui' (天绘) translating as 'Sky Drawing.' Developed by Aerospace Dongfanghong Satellite Co. under CASC and operated by the PLA's Navigation and Survey Bureau, Tianhui-4A carries stereo cameras for generating three-dimensional terrain maps of China and neighboring regions. The Tianhui series produces the digital elevation models that underpin everything from military terrain analysis to civil infrastructure planning — the same 3D surface data that autonomous vehicles, precision weapons, and city planners all depend upon. The PLA's investment in independent topographic mapping from orbit means China does not depend on commercial or foreign elevation data for any territory it considers strategically significant.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 261–270 mi (421–435 km)
- Inclination
- 89.0°
- One orbit
- 93.0 minutes15.5 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 50572
- Int’l designator
- 2021-134A
- Launched
- 2021
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
More science
- TIANHUI 4BChinese Military Earth Observation (Unconfirmed Mission)
- TIANHUI 5AChinese Military Stereo Mapping Satellite
- TIANHUI 5BChinese Military Stereo Mapping Satellite
- TIANHUI 5CChinese Military Stereo Mapping Satellite
- TIANHUI 5DChinese Military Stereo Mapping Satellite
- TIANHUI 6AChinese Military Stereo Mapping Satellite