CLASSIFIED
YAOGAN-50 01
Chinese Military Satellite (Assessed Reconnaissance, Unusual Orbit) · CASC / PLA
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Yaogan-50 (01), launched into an unusual 142° inclination — a retrograde orbit inclined more than 90° from the equator, placing it among the rarer orbital geometries used by any Chinese reconnaissance satellite. This unconventional inclination, paired with the Yaogan designation's typical reconnaissance implications, has drawn attention from trackers, though the specific mission and sensor payload remain unconfirmed as of this writing.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 597–598 mi (962–963 km)
- Inclination
- 142.0°
- One orbit
- 104.2 minutes13.8 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 67433
- Int’l designator
- 2026-006A
- Launched
- 2026
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 21 Sep 2026.
More classified
- YAOGAN-50 02Chinese Military Satellite (Assessed Reconnaissance, Unusual Orbit)
- YAOGAN-7Earth Observation (Dual-Use)
- YAOGAN-8Chinese Military Reconnaissance (Early Yaogan — EO/SAR)
- YAOGAN-9 01AChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (JB-8 Founding Triplet)
- YAOGAN-9 01BChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (JB-8 Founding Triplet)
- YAOGAN-9 01CChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (JB-8 Founding Triplet)