Earth resources
NORAD ID: 36110
Int'l Code: 2009-069A
Perigee: 634.7 km
Apogee: 670.1 km
Inclination: 98.1 °
Period: 97.6 minutes
Semi major axis: 7023 km
Launch date: December 9, 2009
Source: People's Republic of China (PRC)
Comments: According to Xinhua, YAOGAN 7 will be used for scientific experiments, land resources surveys, crop yield estimates and disaster response applications. But the craft is likely an electro-optical spy satellite to be operated by the Chinese military. Observers believe the Yaogan series, which began launching in 2006, is a new fleet of high-resolution optical and radar reconaissance satellites. The new satellite would be the third Yaogan spacecraft fitted with an optical imager. Yaogan 7 was built by the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.
Two Line Element Set (TLE):
1 36110U 09069A 15026.57171695 -.00000097 00000-0 -64926-5 0 7011
2 36110 098.0913 167.5706 0025203 027.0341 333.2180 14.74972890276235
Source: AFSPC
NASA's NSSDC Master Catalog entry for YAOGAN 7
