Shiyan (satellite) explained

Shiyan
Country: People's Republic of China
Purpose:Experimental
Status:Active
Duration:2004–Present
Firstflight:18 April 2004
Lastflight:11 May 2024
Successes:36
Failures:0
Native Name A:Chinese: 实验卫星
Native Name R:Shíyàn Wèixīng

Shiyan (SY,) is a Chinese experimental satellite program consisting of a variety of test satellites. Given the classified nature of the satellites, Chinese government statements regarding the missions of Shiyan satellites follow the common refrain of agricultural monitoring and space environment observation — the same offered for other classified programs such as the Tongxin Jishu Shiyan, Yaogan, and Shijian programs. Alternatively named Tansuo satellites, Shiyan satellites occupy varying orbits including low Earth, polar Sun-synchronous, geosynchronous, and highly-elliptical orbits and are believed to accomplish a diverse set of missions from rendezvous proximity operations (RPO) to earth imaging.[1] [2] Though similarly named, the Shiyan satellite program is not to be confused with the separate Shijian satellite program.

Notable satellites

Shiyan 7

Shiyan 7 was launched from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) on 19 July 2013 aboard a Launch March 4C rocket into low Earth, Sun-synchronous orbit, accompanied by the Shijian 15 (of unknown mission) and Chuangxin 3.[3] Three weeks after launch, from 6–9 August 2013, Shiyan 7 performed rendezvous operations with its companion payload, Chuangxin-3, supporting speculations of a robotic arm-wielding satellite tasked with rendezvous proximity operations (RPO).[4] [5] [6] Later, Shiyan 7 shifted to rendezvous with Shijian 7 (of unknown mission) with whom it maintained proximity from 19 to 20 August 2013 until it maneuvered into a 5 km lower orbit.[7] Drawing further suspicion, around 19 October 2013, Shiyan 7 maneuvered to a 1 km higher orbit and released a previously untracked object, designated which many believe to be a subsatellite to RPO experiments.[8] Such operations, which the Chinese government does not comment on, has sparked debate around the nature of Chinese experimental satellites.[9]

Satellites

!Name!Launch!Orbit!Orbital apsis!Inclination!SCN!COSPAR ID!Launch site!Launcher!Status
Shiyan 118 April 2004SSO559.8 km × 572.9 km98.0°28220 XSLCLong March 2COperational
Shiyan 218 November 2004SSO678.9 km × 702.5 km98.1°28479XSLCLong March 2COperational
Shiyan 35 November 2008SSO788.6 km × 809.7 km98.7°33433JSLCLong March 2DOperational
Shiyan 420 November 2011SSO781.6 km × 816.2 km98.7°37931 JSLCLong March 2DOperational
Shiyan 525 November 2013SSO747.5 km × 770.0 km98.2°39455 JSLCLong March 2DOperational
Shiyan 6-0119 November 2018SSO448.8 km × 541.0 km97.4°43711 JSLCLong March 2DOperational
Shiyan 6-024 July 2020SSO609.0 km × 799.1 km98.2°45859JSLCLong March 2DOperational
Shiyan 6-038 April 2021SSO1,001.4 km × 1,126.5 km99.5°48157 TSLCLong March 4BOperational
Shiyan 7A19 July 2013SSO665.3 k × 679.0 km98.0°39208TSLCLong March 4COperational
Shiyan 7B (subsat)19 July 2013SSO670 km × 660 km98.0°39357TSLCLong March 4COperational
Shiyan 911 March 2021GTO35,738.5 km × 35,852 km19.4°47851 WSLCLong March 7AOperational
Shiyan 1027 September 2021Molniya1,422.3 km × 38,950.6 km63.7°49258 XSLCLong March 3BPartially operational[10]
Shiyan 10-0229 December 2022GTO(Not yet announced)(Not yet announced)54878XSLCLong March 3BOperational
Shiyan 1124 November 2021SSO488.9 km × 502.0 km97.5°49501 JSLCKuaizhou 1AOperational
Shiyan 12-0123 December 2021GEO35,751.6 km × 35,758.8 km0.2°50321WSLCLong March 7AOperational
Shiyan 12-0223 December 2021GEO35,749.1 km × 35,773.1 km0.2°50322WSLCLong March 7AOperational
Shiyan 1317 January 2022SSO371.3 km × 1,272.0 km98.6°51102TSLCLong March 2DOperational
Shiyan 1424 September 2022SSO492.1 km × 514.7 km97.5°53884TSLCKuaizhou 1AOperational
Shiyan 1524 September 2022SSO491.8 km × 510.5 km97.5°53885TSLCKuaizhou 1AOperational
Shiyan 16A26 September 2022SSO509.1 km × 528.0 km97.5°53948TSLCLong March 6Operational
Shiyan 16B26 September 2022SSO509.6 km × 526.8 km97.5°53949TSLCLong March 6Operational
Shiyan 1726 September 2022SSO508.1 km × 527.0 km97.5°53950TSLCLong March 6Operational
Shiyan 1915 March 2023SSO500.1 km × 520.9 km97.5°55861JSLCLong March 11Operational
Shiyan 20A12 December 2022LEO800.3 km × 806.6 km60.0°54699JSLCLong March 4COperational
Shiyan 20B12 December 2022LEO798.5 km × 808.1 km60.0°54700JSLCLong March 4COperational
Shiyan 20C29 October 2022LEO799.5 km x 816.0 km60.0°54214JSLCLong March 2DOperational
Shiyan 2116 December 2022LEO480.8 km × 498.5 km36.0°54752XSLCLong March 11Operational
Shiyan 22A13 January 2023LEO504.3 km × 521.9 km43.2°55242JSLCLong March 2DOperational
Shiyan 22B13 January 2023LEO510.6 km × 526.3 km43.2°55243JSLCLong March 2DOperational
Shiyan 2311 May 2024SSOJSLCLong March 4COperational
Shiyan 24A7 June 2023SSOJSLCKinetica 1Operational
Shiyan 24B7 June 2023SSOJSLCKinetica 1Operational
Shiyan 24C-0125 December 2023SSOBo Run Jiu Zhou platform, South China SeaLong March 11Operational
Shiyan 24C-0225 December 2023SSOBo Run Jiu Zhou platform, South China SeaLong March 11Operational
Shiyan 24C-0325 December 2023SSOBo Run Jiu Zhou platform, South China SeaLong March 11Operational
Shiyan 2520 June 2023SSOTSLCLong March 6Operational
Sources: NASA, US Space Force, CelesTrak

See also

References

  1. Web site: Krebs . Gunter Dirk . 21 July 2019 . SY 1, 2 (TS 1, 2) . Gunter's Space Page.
  2. Web site: 27 April 2022 . Shiyan 7 . NASA.
  3. Web site: Krebs . Gunter Dirk . 21 July 2019 . SY 7A, 7B . Gunter's Space Page.
  4. Web site: 12 December 2013 . Shiyan-7 (SY-7) . Weebau Space Encyclopedia.
  5. Web site: Shiyan-7 (SY-7) . N2YO.
  6. News: Smith . Marcia . 19 August 2013 . Surprise Chinese Satellite Maneuvers Mystify Western Experts . SpacePolicyOnline .
  7. News: David . Leonard . 9 September 2013 . Mysterious Actions of Chinese Satellites Have Experts Guessing . .
  8. China's Space and Counterspace Capabilities and Activities . Stokes . Mark . Alvarado . Gabriel . 30 March 2020.
  9. Deschenes . Nicholas . Enabling Leaders to Dominate the Space Domain . . May–June 2019 . 112.
  10. Web site: Krebs . Gunter Dirk . 24 October 2021 . SY 10 . Gunter's Space Page.

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