26 July 2023: China launched the Yaogan 36 Group 5 (YG-36(05)) triplets from Xichang Satellite Launch Center. There are now 15 Yaogan 36 and 15 Yaogan 35 satellites in orbit. China has paired each YG-35 triplet with a YG-36 triplet. YG-36(05) is nearly co-planar with YG-35(04). Like other YG payloads, the mission’s exact use case and goal remain classified. Launch Video.
– YG-36(05) is in the typical orbit for this constellation with an apogee of ~505 km, perigee of ~491 km, and a 35° inclination. These numbers will shift over the next few weeks as YG-36(05) maneuvers into the lead-trail-trail formation.
-As has become the pattern, YG-36(05) is plane matched with a YG-35 triplet, this time YG-35(04).
– Here are the other pairings: 1) YG-36(01) & YG-35(01); 2) YG-36(02) & YG-35(02); 3) YG-36(03) & YG-35(05); and 4) YG-36(4) & YG-35(03) .
– The Aerospace Dongfanghong Satellite Co., Ltd. developed two of the three satellites YG-36(05), with the third provided by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) — both of which operate under CASC. (This is true for all YG-35 & 36 triplets).
– China’s government-owned media disclosed few details about the satellites. The country’s Xinhua news agency said the satellites will be mainly used to test “new Earth-observation technology.”
– Looking at similar orbits and formations between 2018 and 2020, China launched 8 XJS satellites with similar orbital parameters. All are 35° inclined and between 460 – 475 km in altitude.
– Yaogan-35/36 satellites may operate in lead-trail configuration, with the lead satellite potentially cueing the two trailing vehicles.
Patch-Int: Possible patch configuration for all previous Yaogan 35 & 36 missions (right). Note nautical theme and the appearance of South Pacific Islands… also kind of looks like a sailboat. New patch for YG-36(05) (left) appears to start a new puzzle.
Yaogan-35 and Yaogan-36 constellation
Yaogan-35-04 and Yaogan-36-05 orbits are nearly co-planar
New Yaogan-36 Group 5 mission patch
Possible patch configuration for previous Yaogan-35 and Yaogan-36 missions
