Science
HEAD-3A
Chinese Commercial Earth Observation / AIS Satellite · HEAD Aerospace (China)
Right now
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HEAD-3A, part of HEAD Aerospace's commercial small satellite constellation combining Earth imaging with AIS ship-tracking receivers in a single spacecraft. HEAD's satellites serve customers who need both visual confirmation of maritime activity and the underlying vessel transponder data — an increasingly valuable combination for maritime insurance, illegal fishing detection, and sanctions enforcement monitoring.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 432–437 mi (695–704 km)
- Inclination
- 45.0°
- One orbit
- 98.6 minutes14.6 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 57626
- Int’l designator
- 2023-121A
- Launched
- 2023
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.