SHIYAN 20A (SY-20A)

SHIYAN 20A (SY-20A) is an active satellite operated by China, launched on 2022-12-12 from Jiuquan, China. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 788 km and 798 km with an inclination of 60.0°. It travels at approximately 26,853 km/h (7.46 km/s), completing one full orbit every 101 minutes — that’s roughly 14.30 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 SHIYAN 20A (SY-20A) in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

SHIYAN 20A (SY-20A) orbits at an average altitude of 793 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 SHIYAN 20A (SY-20A)’s average altitude, there are currently 426 active payloads and 2,261 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include NOAA 20, ONEWEB-0179, ONEWEB-0455. With an inclination of 60.0°, SHIYAN 20A (SY-20A) passes over latitudes between 60.0°N and 60.0°S, covering most populated land masses in both hemispheres. This mid-inclination band balances global coverage with efficient launch energy requirements. China operates approximately 1,218 active satellites in total, of which 97 share a similar altitude band with SHIYAN 20A (SY-20A).