HONGYAN 1

HONGYAN 1 is an active satellite operated by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) (China), launched on 2018-12-29 from Jiuquan, China. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 1,090 km and 1,100 km with an inclination of 50.0°. It travels at approximately 26,304 km/h (7.31 km/s), completing one full orbit every 107 minutes — that’s roughly 13.44 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 HONGYAN 1 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

HONGYAN 1 orbits at an average altitude of 1,095 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 HONGYAN 1’s average altitude, there are currently 180 active payloads and 389 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include ONEWEB-0041. With an inclination of 50.0°, HONGYAN 1 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 158 share a similar altitude band with HONGYAN 1.