Orbital Focus - International Spaceflight Facts and Figures
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China in Space


Tyneside, UK
2023 Jun 7
Wednesday, Day 158

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Sea Launches

Beginning 2019, China opened up a new class of launch using a floating platform in the Yellow Sea or East China Sea. The launch vehicle used is the CZ-11H.


Launch Process

The launch vehicle is carried in a launch tube, making it a self-contained launch system. Once mounted on the chosen ship or barge, it is taken, or towed, to the launch point. The tube is then moved to a vertical position and the launch takes place.

For launch, the CZ 11H is ejected from the launch tube by compressed air and the solid propellant first stage ignites once the whole vehicle has cleared the tube exit. It is a method derived from land mobile and submarine ballistic missile launches, necessary because the gas pressure generated by the rocket motor would be too great and would destroy the tube, seriously damaging whatever was carring it.

For safety, all crew are evacuated before countdown from the launch platform to a ship that serves as a launch control centre.


Launch Platform

The launch platform is placed at a location dictated (probably) by factors such as precise orbital inclination, orbits of satellites already in space, and location of the first stage drop zone in relation to shipping lanes.

As yet, no two launches have been from any single location.


List of Launches

2019-032
CZ 11H
Towed barge 'Tai Rui', Yellow Sea - 34°.9 N, 121.2 E
2019 Jun 5, 04:06
Jilin-1 High Resolution 03A
2019-032A
44310
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite. Catalogue Number and designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
2019 Jun 07, 08:1969450.001455757696.0044.99308
2022 May 01, 03:0369450.001156057596.0144.9874
Tianqi 3
2019-032B
44311
in space
6U Cubesat? - comsat providing messaging communication links from LEO including between Internet-connected items. Catalogue number and designation to be confirmed,

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
2019 Jun 07, 11:3169440.001455657695.9844.98315
2022 May 01, 03:4669400.001355357195.8944.9873
Xiaoxiang-1 04
2019-032C
44312
in space
Full-color miniature remote sensing camera. Remote sensing imaging technology verification based on industrial lens + commercial high performance detector. 7.2m resolution RGB remote sensing camera

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
2019 Jun 07, 09:5569440.001455657695.9844.99317
2022 May 01, 03:1169390.001255357095.8844.9972
Tianxiang 1
2019-032D
44313
in space
Test satellite to demonstrate Ka-band communications in space. Catalogue Number and designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
2019 Jun 07, 09:5469440.001555557695.9745.00315
2022 May 01, 04:2869380.001455156995.8645.0069
Tianxiang 2
2019-032E
44314
in space
Test satellite to demonstrate Ka-band communications in space. Catalogue Number and designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
2019 Jun 07, 11:3069430.001655457695.9744.99314
2022 May 01, 03:0469390.001455157195.8844.9972
Bufeng 1A (Wind Catcher 1A)
2019-032F
44315
in space
Small satellite to monitor ocean wind fields and wave heights/patterns to improve typhoon monitoring. Its detectors use reflected MEO navsat transmissions to measure wave height and speed. Catalogue Number and designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
2019 Jun 07, 08:1769420.001755257695.9344.98317
2022 May 01, 03:0969370.001654856995.8344.9882
Bufeng 1B (Wind Catcher 1C)
2019-032G
44316
in space
Small satellite to monitor ocean wind fields and wave heights/patterns to improve typhoon monitoring. Its detectors use reflected MEO navsat transmissions to measure wave height and speed. Catalogue Number and designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
2019 Jun 07, 11:3169450.001355757696.0044.99307
2022 May 01, 02:4169450.001655657896.0144.9862


2020-065
CZ 11H
Self propelled barge 'De Bo 3', Yellow Sea - 34°.3 N, 123°.8 E
2020 Sep 15, 01:23
Jilin-1 High Resolution 03B 01
2020-065A
46454
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite. Catalogue Number and Designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
2020 Sep 15, 05:5669180.001053254795.4397.5427809:21
2022 May 01, 03:3269110.001652254495.3097.454809:03
Jilin-1 High Resolution 03B 02
2020-065B
46455
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite.Catalogue Number and Designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
2020 Sep 15, 05:5769170.001253054795.4197.5229609:21
2022 May 01, 03:1769110.001552254495.3097.456209:01
Jilin-1 High Resolution 03B 03
2020-065C
46456
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite. Catalogue Number and Designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
2020 Sep 15, 05:5769160.001253054795.4197.5329509:21
2022 May 01, 03:0069110.001452354395.3097.466309:04
Jilin-1 High Resolution 03B 04
2020-065D
46457
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite. Catalogue Number and Designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
2020 Sep 15, 05:5769160.001153154695.4197.5329609:21
2022 May 01, 03:1069110.001552354395.3097.456809:03
Jilin-1 High Resolution 03B 05
2020-065E
46458
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite. Catalogue Number and Designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
2020 Sep 15, 05:5669160.001352954795.4097.5229909:21
2022 May 01, 02:3769110.001552354395.3097.445909:01
Jilin-1 High Resolution 03B 06
2020-065F
46459
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite. Catalogue Number and Designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
2020 Sep 15, 05:5669160.001352854795.4097.5329909:21
2022 May 01, 02:4669110.001652254495.3097.466109:05
Jilin-1 High Resolution 03C 01
2020-065G
46460
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite. Catalogue Number and Designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
2020 Sep 15, 05:5669160.001352954795.3997.5229609:21
2022 May 01, 02:3069110.001552354395.3097.456009:02
Jilin-1 High Resolution 03C 02
2020-065H
46461
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite. Catalogue Number and Designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
2020 Sep 15, 05:5669160.001352954695.3997.5329509:21
2022 May 01, 03:4269110.001552354495.3097.465409:05
Jilin-1 High Resolution 03C 03
2020-065J
46462
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite. Catalogue Number and Designation subject to confirmation.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
2020 Sep 15, 05:5669150.001352854695.3997.5329709:21
2022 May 01, 03:3569110.001452354395.3097.455809:03


2022-046
CZ 11H
Towed barge 'Tai Rui', East China Sea - 32°.2 N, 123°.8 E
2022 Apr 30, 03:30
Jilin-1 High Resolution 3D 04
2022-046xx
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
estimated orbit69160.001352854695.3997.5328311:20
Jilin-1 High Resolution 3D 05
2022-046xx
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
estimated orbit69160.000953254495.4097.5325011:20
Jilin-1 High Resolution 3D 06
2022-046xx
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
estimated orbit69160.001652754995.3997.5330311:20
Jilin-1 High Resolution 3D 07
2022-046xx
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
estimated orbit69150.002052355195.3897.5431711:20
Jilin-1 High Resolution 4A 01
2022-046xx
in space
Chinese high resolution, multi-spectral imaging satellite.

epoch (UTC)         
s-m axis
( km )
ecc    perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl 
( ° )
ω  
( ° )
Desc Node
Local Time
estimated orbit69150.001652554895.3797.5229711:20



Page date: 2022 May 01
Details updated: 2022 May 01

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