XIWANG-1 (HOPE-1)

XIWANG-1 (HOPE-1) is an active satellite operated by DFH Satellite Co. Ltd./AMSAT-China (China), launched on 2009-12-15 from Taiyuan, China. After 17 years in orbit, it continues to be tracked by global surveillance networks. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 1,193 km and 1,204 km with an inclination of 100.4°. It travels at approximately 26,124 km/h (7.26 km/s), completing one full orbit every 109 minutes — that’s roughly 13.16 orbits per day. Its near-circular orbit (eccentricity close to zero) means it maintains a very consistent altitude throughout each revolution. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~500–1,000 years. Orbital Radar tracks XIWANG-1 (HOPE-1) in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

XIWANG-1 (HOPE-1) orbits at an average altitude of 1,199 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 XIWANG-1 (HOPE-1)’s average altitude, there are currently 843 active payloads and 211 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include ONEWEB-0012, ONEWEB-0010, ONEWEB-0008. With an inclination of 100.4°, XIWANG-1 (HOPE-1) passes over latitudes between 100.4°N and 100.4°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 1,218 active satellites in total, of which 175 share a similar altitude band with XIWANG-1 (HOPE-1).