YAOGAN-50 30

YAOGAN-50 30 is an active satellite operated by PLA Strategic Support Force (China), launched on 2026-10-23 from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China on the Yaogan 50-03 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 701 km and 945 km with an inclination of 142.0°. It travels at approximately 26,797 km/h (7.44 km/s), completing one full orbit every 101 minutes — that’s roughly 14.21 orbits per day. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~100–500 years. Orbital Radar tracks YAOGAN-50 30 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

YAOGAN-50 30 orbits at an average altitude of 823 km in the upper LEO band, where atmospheric drag is negligible and objects can persist for centuries to millennia. This altitude is used by broadband constellations like OneWeb and by scientific missions requiring stable orbits far from the densest debris bands. Within ±50 km of YAOGAN-50 30’s average altitude, there are currently 402 active payloads and 2,501 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include NOAA 20, ONEWEB-0455. With an inclination of 142.0°, YAOGAN-50 30 passes over latitudes between 142.0°N and 142.0°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 1,340 active satellites in total, of which 86 share a similar altitude band with YAOGAN-50 30.