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Issue 115

04 Flash · Integrity Flash 2025 · Members Only

Update: China’s 4th Batch of SpaceSail Satellites

10 Feb: As noted in the 2 February Flash , China launched its 4th batch of 18 Qianfan (SpaceSail) low earth orbit communications satellites on 23 January. After a few weeks those satellites, Qianfan 55-72 (62785-62802) are now in the catalog. All of the Qianfan satellites are inclined 89° but their orbiting altitude…

Author Greg Gillinger Published February 24, 2025
10 Feb: As noted in the 2 February Flash, China launched its 4th batch of 18 Qianfan (SpaceSail) low earth orbit communications satellites on 23 January. After a few weeks those satellites, Qianfan 55-72 (62785-62802) are now in the catalog. All of the Qianfan satellites are inclined 89° but their orbiting altitude differs, possibly due to satellite anomalies. Each launch has been to a unique orbital plan. – Qianfan 55-72 are also known as, Polar Orbit Group 6, and are orbiting at an average altitude of ~804-808km. – All 18 of the satellites appear to have conducted initial orbit raising maneuvers. -Batch Updates:
  • Batch 1: 17 of 18 satellites have raised their average altitude to 1,068.9km. Qianfan 7 (60385) has not maneuvered and may be inoperable.
  • Batch 2: 15 of 18 satellites have raised their average altitudes. There is a wide variance between the operational satellites, lowest being 814km and highest at 861km. Three of the satellites, Qianfan 27 (61560), Qianfan 28 (61561) and Qianfan 35 (61568) have not maneuvered.
  • Batch 3: After over a month with minimal orbit raising maneuvers, 16 of 18 satellites began to raise their average altitudes significantly in early February. The active satellites are all now approaching ~900km average altitude. Qianfan 39 (62240) and Qianfan 42 (62243) did not follow this pattern and remain at ~810km.
Current Qianfan constellation of 72 satellites operating in four orbital planes (spaceaware.io).

Current Qianfan constellation of 72 satellites operating in four orbital planes (spaceaware.io).

Typical Qianfan Batch 1 deployment pattern, represented by Qianfan-2 altitude history (celestrak.org).

Typical Qianfan Batch 1 deployment pattern, represented by Qianfan-2 altitude history (celestrak.org).

Typical Qianfan Batch 2 deployment pattern, represented by Qianfan-36 altitude history (celestrak.org).

Typical Qianfan Batch 2 deployment pattern, represented by Qianfan-36 altitude history (celestrak.org).

Typical Qianfan Batch 3 deployment pattern, represented by Qianfan-54 altitude history (celestrak.org).

Typical Qianfan Batch 3 deployment pattern, represented by Qianfan-54 altitude history (celestrak.org).