YAOGAN-50 02

YAOGAN-50 02 is an active satellite operated by PLA Strategic Support Force (China), launched on 2026-03-15 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 952 km and 953 km with an inclination of 142.0°. It travels at approximately 26,559 km/h (7.38 km/s), completing one full orbit every 104 minutes — that’s roughly 13.83 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 ~100–500 years. Orbital Radar tracks YAOGAN-50 02 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.

YAOGAN-50 02 orbits at an average altitude of 953 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 YAOGAN-50 02’s average altitude, there are currently 303 active payloads and 1,080 tracked debris or rocket body fragments. With an inclination of 142.0°, YAOGAN-50 02 passes over latitudes between 142.0°N and 142.0°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 1,219 active satellites in total, of which 28 share a similar altitude band with YAOGAN-50 02.