Jianbing-4 4 (FSW-3 4)

China

Spacecraft Nº:

Chinese spacecraft nº: 97

Also called: FSW-21

Launch data:

Designation	28776 / 05027A
Launch date	02 Aug 2005 - 07:30 UT
Launch site	Jiuquan
Launch vehicle	CZ-2C3 (#F27)
Mission	Reconnaissance, Imaging
LEO Earth orbit on Aug 7.25:
Perigee / Apogee	166 x 552 km
Inclination	63.0°
Period	91.73 min

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor	CAST
Operator
Platform
Mass at launch	3800? kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape
Dimension
Solar array
Stabilization
Propulsion	FG-23A retro-motor ?

Decay:

Out of service:	28 Sep 2005 - ~23:31 UT
Cause:	Recovery descent module
Descent date equipment module:	16 Oct 2005
Lifetime:

Mission details:

- recoverable satellite

Fourth flight of the "FSW-3" (unofficial western designator) Jianbing-4 photoreconnaissance / remote sensing satellite. Orbit suggests that the satellite is conducting a close-look photoreconnaissance mission, like the second Jianbing-4 (2004-033A).
Descent module recovered September 28.98, 2005. The international designator and catalogue number were retained by the equipment module, which continued in orbit.

Ref.: #3(SD398, 400), #7, #14 - update: 05.01.09