Watch the Launch

Watch the Launch

Yaogan 40 Group 03

Circle Image

Overview

Destination: Polar Orbit
Mission: Government/Top Secret

Polar Orbit Launch Complex 9A Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

3 Chinese reconnaissance satellites of unknown purposes, officially reported as for "Electromagnetic environment probing".

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • Sept. 6, 2025, 5:22 p.m.

Launch success.


Cosmic_Penguin • Sept. 3, 2025, 6:05 a.m.

Added launch per NOTAMs; Payload and launch vehicle identities uncertain.


Long March 6A

Family:
Configuration: A

The Long March 6A is a Chinese launch vehicle of the Long March family, which was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST). The vehicle is a further development of the Long March 6, with 2 YF-100 engines on the first stage as opposed to 1 on the Long March 6, augmented by 4 solid rocket boosters. The Long March 6A is China's first rocket with solid rocket boosters. The maiden launch of the Long March 6A took place 29 March 2022, successfully reaching orbit. It was also the first launch from the newly built launch complex 9A in Taiyuan.

Specifications
  • Minimum Stage
    1
  • Max Stage
    2
  • Length
    50.0 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    5.2 m
  • Launch Mass
    530.0 T
  • Thrust
    7230.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Long March 6A
  • Family
  • Variant
    A
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 6A
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    6400.0 kg

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

(CASC)

Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei Founded: 1999 Successes: 596 Failures: 16 Pending: 8

Agency Type:

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.

INFO WIKI
SpaceNews

China launches new set of Yaogan-40 satellites into polar orbit

China added a third trio of spacecraft to a group of remote sensing satellites Saturday, marking the country’s 52nd launch of the year. The post China launches new set of Yaogan-40 satellites into polar orbit appeared first on SpaceNews.

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Launch Complex 9A


Falcon 9
Success
1 day, 15 hours ago
Starlink Group 15-24
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Spectrum
Success
2 days, 9 hours ago
Onward and Upward
Orbital Launch Pad - Andøya Spaceport

Second test flight of the Isar Spectrum launch vehicle. This launch will carry 5 cubesats and 1 non-separable experiment as part of European Space Ag…


GSLV Mk II
Success
4 days, 8 hours ago
GISAT-1A (EOS-05)
Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad - Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India

GISAT-1A (GEO Imaging Satellite) is an Indian earth observing satellite operating from geostationary orbit to facilitate continuous observation of In…


Electron
Success
5 days, 18 hours ago
Owl Around The World (StriX Launch 11)
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B - Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Synthetic aperture radar satellite for Japanese Earth imaging company Synspective.


Falcon 9
Success
5 days, 21 hours ago
Starlink Group 15-23
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Pallas-1
Success
1 week ago
Demo Flight
Pallas-1 Launch Pad - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

First test launch of Galactic Energy’s Pallas-1 rocket, with a dummy payload on board.


Falcon Heavy
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is a NASA infrared space telescope with a 2.4 m (7.9 ft) wide field of view primary mirror and two scientific i…


Ariane 62
Success
1 week, 4 days ago
MTG-I2
Ariane Launch Area 4 - Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Third of EUMETSAT's third generation of weather satellite.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 5 days ago
Starlink Group 15-22
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 6 days ago
Starlink Group 10-49
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.