PRC TEST SPACECRAFT 4

PRC TEST SPACECRAFT 4 is an active satellite operated by PLA SSF (China), launched on 2026-02-07 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China on the CSSHQ launch. As a relatively recent addition to the catalogue, its orbital elements are well-characterised. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 588 km and 596 km with an inclination of 50.0°. It travels at approximately 27,238 km/h (7.57 km/s), completing one full orbit every 97 minutes — that’s roughly 14.92 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 ~3–10 years. Orbital Radar tracks PRC TEST SPACECRAFT 4 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

PRC TEST SPACECRAFT 4 orbits at an average altitude of 592 km in the core of Low Earth Orbit, the most heavily utilised altitude band. The balance of moderate drag (limiting debris accumulation) and short signal path (enabling low-latency links and high-resolution imaging) makes this regime the default for most commercial and government missions. Within ±50 km of PRC TEST SPACECRAFT 4’s average altitude, there are currently 1,677 active payloads and 662 tracked debris or rocket body fragments — notable neighbours include ONEWEB-0050, STARLINK-3005, STARLINK-3090. This makes it one of the more crowded altitude bands, containing roughly 9% of all active satellites. With an inclination of 50.0°, PRC TEST SPACECRAFT 4 passes over latitudes between 50.0°N and 50.0°S, covering the tropical and temperate zones where most of the world’s population resides. Low-to-mid inclination orbits are efficient to reach from equatorial and mid-latitude launch sites. China operates approximately 1,275 active satellites in total, of which 172 share a similar altitude band with PRC TEST SPACECRAFT 4.