Yaogan 3

Launch data: Designation  32289 / 07055A Launch date  11 Nov 2007 - 22:48 UT Launch site  Taiyuan Launch vehicle  CZ-4C Mission  Radar Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  628 x 629 km Eccentricity   Inclination  97.8° Period  97.28 min

Spacecraft data:

Mission details:

• China launched the Yaogan 3 radar satellite on Nov 11 using a new variant of the Chang Zheng (Long March) rocket. The CZ-4C is like the CZ-4B but includes a restart capability in the upper stage. It also has a new interstage adapter between the first and second stages.
• Yaogan 1 is in a 628 x 628 km x 97.8 deg orbit, and Yaogan 2 is in a 629 x 656 km x 97.9 deg orbit; the Yaogan 1 CZ-4B third stage was placed in a 451 x 619 km x 97.8 deg orbit.
• The Yaogan 3 satellite originally reached a 456 x 612 km x 97.9 deg orbit and separated from the third stage at 2309 UTC on Nov 11. Although China announced that the rocket had a new restart capability on the third stage. At first apogee about 2315 UTC on Nov 11, Yaogan used its own onboard engine to raise orbit to 613 x 623 km; on Nov 20 and 21 small adjustment burns trimmed the orbit to 627 x 629 km.