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China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLong March 2C/YZ-1SLaunch Area 94 (SLS-2 / 603), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

3 x SatNet test satellites

Launched

December 30, 2023 · 00:13 UTC

Launch Successful
CZ-2C | Dec 29 2023

Summary

3 x SatNet test satellites launched on a China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2C/YZ-1S from Launch Area 94 (SLS-2 / 603), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China on December 30, 2023 at 00:13 UTC. The launch window ran from 00:04 to 00:25 UTC. It was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 452nd launch, 47th this year and humanity's 6,589th orbital launch attempt. It was the 7th Long March 2C/YZ-1S flight and the 3rd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Xingwang Jishu SW 04-01, one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 938 × 948 km orbit inclined 50.0°. 3 objects from this launch are catalogued, all of them payloads.

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Vehicle
Long March 2C/YZ-1S · China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Communications · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Milestone
7th Long March 2C/YZ-1S flight · 3rd this yearChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 452nd launch47th this yearhumanity's 6,589th orbital launch attempt221st orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

50.0°Inclination
938 × 948 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
103.8 minPeriodfrom mean elements
68.2°Ascending node
1021 d agoElement epoch2023-12-30 05:03 UTC · stale

Xingwang Jishu SW 04-01 · NORAD 58691 · 2023-212 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 3 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID
2023-212A
Epoch
2023-12-30 05:03:52 UTC
Mean motion
13.879369 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.0007249
Inclination
49.9994°
Ascending node
68.1728°
Arg. of perigee
305.4232°
Mean anomaly
96.7287°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
2
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Catalogued objects

3 catalogued: 3 payloads; 3 still in orbit

  • Xingwang Jishu SW 04-01 · NORAD 58691 · in orbit
  • Xingwang Jishu SW 04-02 · NORAD 58692 · in orbit
  • Xingwang Jishu SW 04-03 · NORAD 58693 · in orbit

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

Officially described as "Satellite-Internet Technology Demonstration Satellite(s)" manufactured by CAST. Probably 3 test satellites for the Chinese state-owned LEO communication satellite constellation SatNet.

Pad

Map of Launch Area 94 (SLS-2 / 603)

Launch Area 94 (SLS-2 / 603), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

111th launch from Launch Area 94 (SLS-2 / 603), 15th this year · 218th from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Local pad time at liftoff: Dec 30, 8:13 AM GMT+8, in twilight

138 launches from this pad · 299 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

25 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of ChinaOpen in maps

Updates

Launch success.

Cosmic_Penguin · Dec 30, 2023 · source

Show 3 earlier updates

  • Updated possible LV identity based on additional clues.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/27/2023 · source

  • Refined launch window and updated possible LV identity.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/26/2023 · source

  • Added launch per NOTAMs; Payload and launch vehicle identities highly uncertain.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/23/2023 · source

Questions

When did 3 x SatNet test satellites launch?

3 x SatNet test satellites launched on December 30, 2023 at 00:13 UTC. The launch window ran from 00:04 to 00:25 UTC.

Where can I watch 3 x SatNet test satellites?

Coverage: Long March-2C launches “Satellite Internet Technology Test Satellite”. Watch the replay

What rocket launched 3 x SatNet test satellites?

Long March 2C/YZ-1S, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Long March 2C/YZ-1S spec sheet

Where did 3 x SatNet test satellites launch from?

Launch Area 94 (SLS-2 / 603), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China. Liftoff was Dec 30, 8:13 AM GMT+8 local time at the pad.

What orbit did 3 x SatNet test satellites reach?

Xingwang Jishu SW 04-01, one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 938 × 948 km orbit inclined 50.0°.

How many satellites did 3 x SatNet test satellites launch?

3 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 3 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).