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Issue 94

02 Flash Archive · Members Only

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite

2 Apr 2024: China launched a LM-2D from Xichang carrying the Yaogan-42 01 remote sensing satellite. YG-42 01 appears to be nearly co-planar with Yaogan-35 02A and 02B and is a possible replacement for the Yaogan-35 02C which likely failed back in November 2022. China provided few details of YG-42 01's mission. Launch…

Author Greg Gillinger Published July 28, 2025

2 Apr 2024: China launched a LM-2D from Xichang carrying the Yaogan-42 01 remote sensing satellite. YG-42 01 appears to be nearly co-planar with Yaogan-35 02A and 02B and is a possible replacement for the Yaogan-35 02C which likely failed back in November 2022. China provided few details of YG-42 01’s mission. Launch Video.

– YG-42 01 is currently in a 504.9 x 494.3km orbit and is inclined 35°. The altitude and inclination match the Yaogan-35/36/39 45 satellite constellation China launched between 2021 and 2023.

– YG-42 01 is nearly co-planar with the YG-35 02A and 02B satellites which China launched on 23 June 2022. The YG-36 02 and YG-39 01 triplets are also in the same orbital plane.

– For the YG-35 02 triplets specifically, YG-35 02B is the “Lead” and YG-35 02A is “Trail1.” YG-35 02C was in the “Trail2” position, however it has not maneuvered since November 2022.

– YG-35 02’s orbit has gradually deteriorated over the past 16 months and its altitude is now just over 300km. It is likely to re-enter over the South Pacific in the near term.

– On the same day of the YG-42 01 launch, both YG-35 02A and 02B increased their altitudes.

– The coming days/weeks will reveal if YG-42 01 joins the YG-35 02 formation as the “Trail2” satellite replacing the failed YG-35 02C.

– Another of the “Trail2” satellites, YG-36 01B also appears to have failed and has not maneuvered since ~ 22 Jan 2023. Its SMA has decreased over 100km and is now 395.1km and is likely headed for a similar fate as YG-35 02C. If there is a YG-42 02 and it joins the YG-36 01 formation then it is likely the YG-42 satellite is a new “Trail2” variant.

– On 29 Jan 2024, 7 other “Trail2” satellites began decreasing their SMAs. As of 7 April 2024 all of their altitudes have continued to decline. China appears to have done similar maneuvers with some of the

Trail2 satellites from Jan-Mar

2023.

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite

China Launches New Yaogan-42 01 Satellite