CLASSIFIED
YAOGAN-50 02
Chinese Military Satellite (Assessed Reconnaissance, Unusual Orbit) · CASC / PLA
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Yaogan-50 (02), launched into the same unusual 142° retrograde inclination as its predecessor. Two satellites now share this rare orbital geometry, suggesting a deliberate — if still publicly unconfirmed — design choice for whatever surveillance or technology demonstration role the Yaogan-50 program serves within China's broader reconnaissance satellite ecosystem.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 598 mi (962 km)
- Inclination
- 142.0°
- One orbit
- 104.2 minutes13.8 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 68196
- Int’l designator
- 2026-051A
- Launched
- 2026
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
More classified
- 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)
- 2024-153AReconnaissance (classified)