CLASSIFIED
YAOGAN-42 01
Chinese Military Reconnaissance · CASC / PLA
Right now
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Yaogan-42 (01), launched as a single satellite into the 35°-inclined orbital regime shared with China's naval ELINT triplet families, but deployed alone rather than as part of a three-satellite formation. This solo deployment pattern, also seen with Yaogan-34, suggests China continues experimenting with single-satellite alternatives to its established triangulation-based surveillance architecture in this orbital band.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 314–317 mi (506–510 km)
- Inclination
- 35.0°
- One orbit
- 94.6 minutes15.2 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 59395
- Int’l designator
- 2024-063A
- Launched
- 2024
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
More classified
- YAOGAN-42 02Chinese Military Reconnaissance
- YAOGAN-43 01AChinese Military LEO Constellation Testbed
- YAOGAN-43 01BChinese Military LEO Constellation Testbed
- YAOGAN-43 01CChinese Military LEO Constellation Testbed
- YAOGAN-43 01DChinese Military LEO Constellation Testbed
- YAOGAN-43 01EChinese Military LEO Constellation Testbed