YUNHAI 2-1B

YUNHAI 2-1B is an active satellite operated by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (China), launched on 2018-12-29 from Jiuquan, China. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 792 km and 798 km with an inclination of 50.0°. It travels at approximately 26,849 km/h (7.46 km/s), completing one full orbit every 101 minutes — that’s roughly 14.29 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 ~25–100 years. Orbital Radar tracks YUNHAI 2-1B in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

YUNHAI 2-1B orbits at an average altitude of 795 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 YUNHAI 2-1B’s average altitude, there are currently 422 active payloads and 2,271 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include NOAA 20, ONEWEB-0179, ONEWEB-0455. With an inclination of 50.0°, YUNHAI 2-1B passes over latitudes between 50.0°N and 50.0°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. China operates approximately 1,219 active satellites in total, of which 88 share a similar altitude band with YUNHAI 2-1B.