Anik, the latter one strongly suggest that the launch of 17-Mar-2012 did occur -- and probably ended in failure? Just as the purpoted Iranian launches...
Anik, the latter one strongly suggest that the launch of 17-Mar-2012 did occur -- and probably ended in failure? Just as the purported Iranian launches...
More new construction in this area also, of a couple of large buildings. This doesn't look like a launch center that is going to be shut down any time soon!https://maps.google.com/maps?q=40.958+N,+100.291+E&hl=en&ll=40.979363,100.286636&spn=0.008958,0.01929&om=1&t=k&z=16
On September 27, Kuaizhou-1 did at least two maneuvers and raised its orbit some 14-26 km.
Quote from: Liss on 09/27/2013 10:32 pmOn September 27, Kuaizhou-1 did at least two maneuvers and raised its orbit some 14-26 km.Has it made any further manoeuvres as the initial orbit for it did seem rather on the low side for longer term operation?
Third, the launch pad posted by Ed is not it
Quote from: Star One on 10/01/2013 03:10 pmQuote from: Liss on 09/27/2013 10:32 pmOn September 27, Kuaizhou-1 did at least two maneuvers and raised its orbit some 14-26 km.Has it made any further manoeuvres as the initial orbit for it did seem rather on the low side for longer term operation?No, still in 296 x 302 km orbit. Which is fine for operating for several months, it's higher than old Russian spy satellites,so I don't see any reason to believe it isn't the intended orbit.
Maybe I am interpreting what you mean by "the pad" too literally. Those links you posted then and just reposted are centered on the Shenzhou pad located at 40.957912°N 100.291292°E. That's not it. If you scroll the map to the east a bit down that long straight road, you'll find the actual pad located at 40.972344°N 100.363594°E that's shown in the photos by Anik and Penguin.So yes, you're absolutely in the right area of Jiuquan. But the lat/long from the map links you posted are not exactly right, and that's what I was going off.