SHIYAN 27A

SHIYAN 27A is an active satellite operated by China, launched on 2025-04-18 from Taiyuan, China. As a relatively recent addition to the catalogue, its orbital elements are well-characterised. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 1,045 km and 1,047 km with an inclination of 99.7°. It travels at approximately 26,391 km/h (7.33 km/s), completing one full orbit every 106 minutes — that’s roughly 13.57 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 SHIYAN 27A in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

SHIYAN 27A orbits at an average altitude of 1,046 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 SHIYAN 27A’s average altitude, there are currently 184 active payloads and 492 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include ONEWEB-0041. With an inclination of 99.7°, SHIYAN 27A passes over latitudes between 99.7°N and 99.7°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 149 share a similar altitude band with SHIYAN 27A.