GAOFEN 9

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NORAD ID: 40894

Int'l Code: 2015-047A

Perigee: 613.2 km

Apogee: 653.6 km

Inclination: 97.7 °

Period: 97.2 minutes

Semi major axis: 7004 km

RCS: Unknown

Launch date: September 14, 2015
Source: People's Republic of China (PRC)
Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China (JSC)

GAOFEN 9 is a remote sensing Chinese satellite. The spacecraft was tracked in an orbit of 617 by 664 km inclined 98 degrees, in family with previous Gaofen Earth observation satellites as well as the military Yaogan satellite series which is suspected to be the origin of the two Gaofen satellites launched in recent months. According to official reports, the Gaofen-9 satellite is capable of delivering imagery at a resolution of better than one meter. Imagery from the satellite is to be used in urban planning, road network design, land surveying and other purposes. The Gaofen satellites are part of the High-Resolution Earth Observation System CHEOS that had originally included plans for seven satellites to create a constellation of spacecraft readily providing data products from a variety of sensors to establish an operational Earth observation capability similar to that of the American Landsat and European Copernicus programs. CHEOS satellites will be equipped with a variety of sensors from high resolution, multispectral optical imagers to radar payloads, infrared imagers and microwave payloads as well as specific sensors. Satellites belonging to CHEOS will be operated in different orbits including Low Earth Orbit and Geostationary Orbit to create a range of data products at different qualities and revisit times.