YAOGAN-40 04A

YAOGAN-40 04A is an active satellite operated by PLA Strategic Support Force (China), launched on 2026-09-24 from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China on the Yaogan 40-04 launch. As a relatively recent addition to the catalogue, its orbital elements are well-characterised. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 773 km and 792 km with an inclination of 86.0°. It travels at approximately 26,873 km/h (7.46 km/s), completing one full orbit every 101 minutes — that’s roughly 14.33 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~25–100 years. Orbital Radar tracks YAOGAN-40 04A in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

YAOGAN-40 04A orbits at an average altitude of 783 km in the mid-LEO band, where atmospheric drag is minimal but radiation exposure remains manageable. Objects at this altitude persist for decades to centuries, making debris mitigation critical. This regime is popular for remote sensing constellations and scientific instruments that need stable, long-duration orbits. Within ±50 km of YAOGAN-40 04A’s average altitude, there are currently 444 active payloads and 2,453 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include NOAA 20, ONEWEB-0455. With an inclination of 86.0°, YAOGAN-40 04A passes over latitudes between 86.0°N and 86.0°S, providing near-global coverage including the polar regions. Polar and near-polar orbits are used for reconnaissance, weather monitoring and Earth-observation missions that need to image every part of the planet. China operates approximately 1,323 active satellites in total, of which 65 share a similar altitude band with YAOGAN-40 04A.