| 实验卫星 Shíyàn Wèixīng | |
| Program overview | |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Purpose | Experimental |
| Status | Active |
| Program history | |
| Duration | 2004–Present |
| First flight | 18 April 2004 |
| Last flight | 18 April 2025 |
| Successes | 45 |
| Failures | 0 |
| Launch sites | |
| Vehicle information | |
| Launch vehicles | |
Shiyan (SY,simplified Chinese:实验;traditional Chinese:實驗;pinyin:Shíyàn;lit. 'experiment') is a Chinese experimental satellite program consisting of a variety of test satellites. Given theclassified nature of the satellites, Chinese government statements regarding the missions of Shiyan satellites follow the common refrain of agricultural monitoring and space environment observation — the same offered for other classified programs such as theTongxin Jishu Shiyan,Yaogan, andShijian programs. Alternatively named Tansuo satellites, Shiyan satellites occupy varying orbits includinglow Earth,polarSun-synchronous,geosynchronous, andhighly-elliptical orbits and are believed to accomplish a diverse set of missions from rendezvous proximity operations (RPO) toearth imaging.[1][2] Though similarly named, the Shiyan satellite program is not to be confused with the separateShijian satellite program.
Shiyan 7 was launched fromTaiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) on 19 July 2013 aboard a Launch March 4C rocket intolow Earth,Sun-synchronous orbit, accompanied by the Shijian 15 (of unknown mission) and Chuangxin 3.[2][3] Three weeks after launch, from 6–9 August 2013, Shiyan 7 performed rendezvous operations with its companionpayload, Chuangxin-3, supporting speculations of arobotic arm-wielding satellite tasked with rendezvous proximity operations (RPO).[2][4][5][6] Later, Shiyan 7 shifted to rendezvous withShijian 7 (of unknown mission) with whom it maintained proximity from 19 to 20 August 2013 until it maneuvered into a 5 km lower orbit.[4][7] Drawing further suspicion, around 19 October 2013, Shiyan 7 maneuvered to a 1 km higher orbit and released a previously untracked object, designatedShiyan 7B which many believe to be asubsatellite to RPO experiments.[3][4][8] Such operations, which the Chinese government does not comment on, has sparked debate around the nature of Chinese experimental satellites.[7][8][9]
| Name | Launch | Orbit | Orbital apsis | Inclination | SCN | COSPAR ID | Launch site | Launcher | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shiyan 1 | 18 April 2004 | SSO | 559.8 km × 572.9 km | 98.0° | 28220 | 2004-012A | XSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Shiyan 2 | 18 November 2004 | SSO | 678.9 km × 702.5 km | 98.1° | 28479 | 2004-046A | XSLC | Long March 2C | Operational |
| Shiyan 3 | 5 November 2008 | SSO | 788.6 km × 809.7 km | 98.7° | 33433 | 2008-056A | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Shiyan 4 | 20 November 2011 | SSO | 781.6 km × 816.2 km | 98.7° | 37931 | 2011-068B | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Shiyan 5 | 25 November 2013 | SSO | 747.5 km × 770.0 km | 98.2° | 39455 | 2013-068A | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Shiyan 6-01 | 19 November 2018 | SSO | 448.8 km × 541.0 km | 97.4° | 43711 | 2018-094B | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Shiyan 6-02 | 4 July 2020 | SSO | 609.0 km × 799.1 km | 98.2° | 45859 | 2020-043A | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Shiyan 6-03 | 8 April 2021 | SSO | 1,001.4 km × 1,126.5 km | 99.5° | 48157 | 2021-028A | TSLC | Long March 4B | Operational |
| Shiyan 7A | 19 July 2013 | SSO | 665.3 k × 679.0 km | 98.0° | 39208 | 2013-037A | TSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Shiyan 7B (subsat) | 19 July 2013 | SSO | 670 km × 660 km | 98.0° | 39357 | 2013-037J | TSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Shiyan 9 | 11 March 2021 | GTO | 35,738.5 km × 35,852 km | 19.4° | 47851 | 2021-019A | WSLC | Long March 7A | Operational |
| Shiyan 10 | 27 September 2021 | Molniya | 1,422.3 km × 38,950.6 km | 63.7° | 49258 | 2021-087A | XSLC | Long March 3B | Partially operational[10] |
| Shiyan 10-02 | 29 December 2022 | GTO | (Not yet announced) | (Not yet announced) | 54878 | 2022-178A | XSLC | Long March 3B | Operational |
| Shiyan 11 | 24 November 2021 | SSO | 488.9 km × 502.0 km | 97.5° | 49501 | 2021-112A | JSLC | Kuaizhou 1A | Operational |
| Shiyan 12-01 | 23 December 2021 | GEO | 35,751.6 km × 35,758.8 km | 0.2° | 50321 | 2021-129A | WSLC | Long March 7A | Operational |
| Shiyan 12-02 | 23 December 2021 | GEO | 35,749.1 km × 35,773.1 km | 0.2° | 50322 | 2021-129B | WSLC | Long March 7A | Operational |
| Shiyan 13 | 17 January 2022 | SSO | 371.3 km × 1,272.0 km | 98.6° | 51102 | 2022-004A | TSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Shiyan 14 | 24 September 2022 | SSO | 492.1 km × 514.7 km | 97.5° | 53884 | 2022-118A | TSLC | Kuaizhou 1A | Operational |
| Shiyan 15 | 24 September 2022 | SSO | 491.8 km × 510.5 km | 97.5° | 53885 | 2022-118B | TSLC | Kuaizhou 1A | Operational |
| Shiyan 16A | 26 September 2022 | SSO | 509.1 km × 528.0 km | 97.5° | 53948 | 2022-121A | TSLC | Long March 6 | Operational |
| Shiyan 16B | 26 September 2022 | SSO | 509.6 km × 526.8 km | 97.5° | 53949 | 2022-121B | TSLC | Long March 6 | Operational |
| Shiyan 17 | 26 September 2022 | SSO | 508.1 km × 527.0 km | 97.5° | 53950 | 2022-121C | TSLC | Long March 6 | Operational |
| Shiyan 19 | 15 March 2023 | SSO | 500.1 km × 520.9 km | 97.5° | 55861 | 2023-034A | JSLC | Long March 11 | Operational |
| Shiyan 20A | 12 December 2022 | LEO | 800.3 km × 806.6 km | 60.0° | 54699 | 2022-169A | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Shiyan 20B | 12 December 2022 | LEO | 798.5 km × 808.1 km | 60.0° | 54700 | 2022-169B | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Shiyan 20C | 29 October 2022 | LEO | 799.5 km x 816.0 km | 60.0° | 54214 | 2022-142A | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Shiyan 21 | 16 December 2022 | LEO | 480.8 km × 498.5 km | 36.0° | 54752 | 2022-172A | XSLC | Long March 11 | Operational |
| Shiyan 22A | 13 January 2023 | LEO | 504.3 km × 521.9 km | 43.2° | 55242 | 2023-006A | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Shiyan 22B | 13 January 2023 | LEO | 510.6 km × 526.3 km | 43.2° | 55243 | 2023-006B | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational |
| Shiyan 23 | 11 May 2024 | SSO | 624.6 km × 633.8 km | 97.8° | 59728 | 2024-089A | JSLC | Long March 4C | Operational |
| Shiyan 24A | 7 June 2023 | SSO | JSLC | Kinetica 1 | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 24B | 7 June 2023 | SSO | JSLC | Kinetica 1 | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 24C-01 | 25 December 2023 | SSO | 583.9 km × 589.3 km | 97.3° | 58650 | 2023-206A | Bo Run Jiu Zhou platform,South China Sea | Long March 11 | Operational |
| Shiyan 24C-02 | 25 December 2023 | SSO | 584.4 km × 588.5 km | 97.3° | 58651 | 2023-206B | Bo Run Jiu Zhou platform,South China Sea | Long March 11 | Operational |
| Shiyan 24C-03 | 25 December 2023 | SSO | 584.7 km × 587.9 km | 97.3° | 58652 | 2023-206C | Bo Run Jiu Zhou platform,South China Sea | Long March 11 | Operational |
| Shiyan 25 | 20 June 2023 | SSO | 272.5 km × 288.2 km | 96.5° | 57047 | 2023-087A | TSLC | Long March 6 | Operational |
| Shiyan 26A | 11 November 2024 | SSO | JSLC | Kinetica 1 | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 26B | 11 November 2024 | SSO | JSLC | Kinetica 1 | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 26C | 11 November 2024 | SSO | JSLC | Kinetica 1 | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 27A | 18 April 2025 | SSO | TSLC | Long March 6A | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 27B | 18 April 2025 | SSO | TSLC | Long March 6A | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 27C | 18 April 2025 | SSO | TSLC | Long March 6A | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 27D | 18 April 2025 | SSO | TSLC | Long March 6A | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 27E | 18 April 2025 | SSO | TSLC | Long March 6A | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 27F | 18 April 2025 | SSO | TSLC | Long March 6A | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 28B-01 | 3 July 2025 | LEO | XSLC | Long March 4C | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 28B-02 | 17 August 2025 | LEO | XSLC | Long March 4C | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 29 | 5 September 2025 | GEO | XSLC | Long March 3C/E /YZ-1 | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 30A | 29 September 2025 | LEO | XSLC | Long March 2D | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 30B | 29 September 2025 | LEO | XSLC | Long March 2D | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 31 | 13 October 2025 | LEO | JSLC | Long March 2D | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 32-01 | 8 November 2025 | SSO | Bo Run Jiu Zhou platform,South China Sea | Long March 11 | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 32-02 | 8 November 2025 | SSO | Bo Run Jiu Zhou platform,South China Sea | Long March 11 | Operational | ||||
| Shiyan 32-03 | 8 November 2025 | SSO | Bo Run Jiu Zhou platform,South China Sea | Long March 11 | Operational | ||||
| Sources:NASA,US Space Force,CelesTrak | |||||||||