Yaogan 20A (JB-8 4A)

Spacecraft nº:

Chinese spacecraft nº: 223

Launch data:

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• YAOGAN 20A is one of the 3 satellites launched into orbit on August 9, 2014 on a clandestine mission that will likely serve Chinese intelligence and military organizations. Described by official sources as a single remote sensing satellite, the Yaogan 20 payload will be used to conduct scientific experiments, carry out land surveys, monitor crop yields and aid in preventing and reducing natural disasters, according to Xinhua. But U.S. military tracking data detected three satellites, plus the Long March rocket's upper stage, attributed to this launch from China. Western analysts believe the triplets have a naval surveillance mission. Satellites operated by the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office flying in similar orbits are believed to monitor global naval activity.

Mission details:

• China launched a CZ-4C rocket from Jiuquan on Aug 9, 2014 and deployed a cluster of three Yaogan satellites into a 1086 x 1103 km x 63.4 deg orbit. This triplet is the fourth in a series; previous triplet clusters were Yaogan 9, 16 and 17. They are thought to be analogous to the old US NOSS/PARCAE ocean surveillance system.

External links:

• Satellite tracking:
  Real time satellite tracking