BD-3 M7 & M8 (Beidou DW 26 & DW 27)

Launch data: NORAD-ID  43107  43108 Int. code  18003A  18003B Designation  BD-3 M7  BD-3 M8 Launch date  11 Jan 2018 - 23:18 UT Launch site  Xichang, LC-2 Launch vehicle  CZ-3B/YZ1 (Y45) Mission  Polaris Navigation Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  21522 x 21547 km  21522 x 22548 km Eccentricity     Inclination   55.0°   55.0° Period  773.2 min  773.2 min Decay

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• BD 3M (Beidou 3M) satellites are the MEO component of the 3rd phase of the chinese Beidou (Compass) satellite navigation system, which, in contrast to GPS and GLONASS, uses both geostationary satellites and satellites in intermediate orbit.

Mission details:

• The CALT/Beijing CZ-3B was used for China′s second launch, from Xichang.
  Flight Y45′s third stage reached a 210 x 18546 km x 55.0 deg transfer orbit and deployed the Yuanzheng-1 (YZ-1) Y5 upper stage, which immediately raised apogee to 22000 km. A second burn of the YZ-1 circularized the orbit to 21543 x 22194 km, after which two Beidou-3 navigation satellites were deployed. Beidou Daohang Weixing (Polaris Navigation Satellite) 26 and 27 are also designated MEO-7 and MEO-8.
• These two satellites were built by the Shanghai CAS Institute for Microsatellite Innovation (Zhongguo kexueyuan weixiao weixing chuangxin yanjiuyuan), unlike the MEO-1 and 2 satellites launched in November which were built by Beijing′s CAST.

External links:

• Satellite tracking: Real time satellite tracking