Yaogan Weixing 5 (JB-10 1)

Launch data: Designation  33456 / 08064A Launch date  15 Dec 2008 - 03:22 UT Launch site  Taiyuan, LC-9 Launch vehicle  CZ-4B Mission  Remote Sensing Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  480 x 492 km Eccentricity   Inclination  97.4 deg Period  93.7 min

Description:

• YaoGan-5 satellite will be used for scientific research, land resources surveying, crop yield estimate and disaster prevention and relief. The satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology.

Mission details:

• The Yaogan weixing wuhao (Resource satellite No. 5) was launched on Dec 15 from Taiyuan only two weeks after YW 4 was launched from Jiuquan. This confirms the pattern of two different series within the Yaogan series, but also complicates the picture since YW 5 is in a lower orbit than previous satellites in the series - although similar to the ZY-2 satellites.
• YaoGan-5 satellite will be used for scientific research, land resources surveying, crop yield estimate and disaster prevention and relief.
• The launch vehicle was announced as a CZ-4B, although a CZ-4C had been expected; the CZ-4C upper stage has a restartable YF-40A engine. Pictures of the latest launch show the larger nose fairing previously used on the CZ-4C.