ZHIHUI TIANWANG-1 01A

ZHIHUI TIANWANG-1 01A is an active satellite operated by China, launched on 2024-05-09 from Xichang, China. It orbits in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at altitudes between 20,109 km and 20,255 km with an inclination of 53.1°. It travels at approximately 13,948 km/h (3.87 km/s), completing one full orbit every 11 hours 58 minutes — that’s roughly 2.01 orbits per day. Orbital Radar tracks ZHIHUI TIANWANG-1 01A in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

ZHIHUI TIANWANG-1 01A orbits at an average altitude of 20,182 km in Medium Earth Orbit, the region between LEO and GEO (2,000–35,786 km). MEO’s higher altitude gives each satellite a much larger ground footprint than LEO, meaning fewer spacecraft are needed for global coverage — but signal latency is higher and radiation from the Van Allen belts is a significant design constraint. Within ±50 km of ZHIHUI TIANWANG-1 01A’s average altitude, there are currently 102 active payloads and 13 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include GPS BIIR-5 (PRN 22), GPS BIIR-8 (PRN 16), GPS BIIR-11 (PRN 19). With an inclination of 53.1°, ZHIHUI TIANWANG-1 01A passes over latitudes between 53.1°N and 53.1°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 4 share a similar altitude band with ZHIHUI TIANWANG-1 01A.