CZ-4B - Yaogan 14, Tiantuo 1 - Taiyuan - May 10, 2012

[hhg]

Tiantuo 1

[input~2]

We now have Object B
38258/2012-021B in
469.4 x 471.4 km x 97.24° (period 94.01 min)

[Salo Ukr]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-05/10/c_131580382.htm

[Phillip Clark]

If this is a Jianbing-8 class satellite like Yaogan Weixings 5 and 12, maybe the launch vehicle has slightly under-performed?

Then again another Jianbing-8 so soon after Yaogan Weixing 12 would be unusual.

[input~2]

According to the video, YG-14 was separated first, then Tiantuo-1

[Skyrocket]

If this is a Jianbing-8 class satellite like Yaogan Weixings 5 and 12, maybe the launch vehicle has slightly under-performed?

Then again another Jianbing-8 so soon after Yaogan Weixing 12 would be unusual.

The LVs for Yaogan 5 and 12 had smaller payload fairings, so it is unlikely that Yaogan 14 is JB-8 class.

[input~2]

USSTRATCOM has catalogued a new Object A
38257/2012-021A in
470.1 x 473.8 km x 97.24°

We now have Object B
38258/2012-021B in
469.4 x 471.4 km x 97.24° (period 94.01 min)

We also have Objects C, D and E
Object C 38259/2012-012C in 327.3 x 472.4 km x 97.16°
Object D 38260/2012-012D in 451.3 x 732.3 km x 97.35°
Object E 38261/2012-012E in 433.5 x 638.5 km x 97.42°

[input~2]

[input~2]

An unidentified satellite solar array deployment test in the same CCTV7 report.
The earth-facing panel looks interesting

[Galactic Penguin SST]

An unidentified satellite solar array deployment test in the same CCTV7 report.
The earth-facing panel looks interesting

Doubt it: the news report is an introduction to TSLC, and the footage used are stock ones....

[fringe_dweller]

Probably launch azimuth should be corrected for rotation of Earth.

Checked - it's true. Given the Earth's rotation the zone will be exactly on the real track of the launch.

[input~2]

An unidentified satellite solar array deployment test in the same CCTV7 report.
The earth-facing panel looks interesting

Doubt it: the news report is an introduction to TSLC, and the footage used are stock ones....

Thanks anyway for raising the question on 9ifly forum

[fringe_dweller]

We also have Objects C, D and E

Additional objects can be a covers of solid-fuel reverse engines. It may be four elements. With 2 satellites and 1 stage - total seven objects.

[input~2]

We also have Objects C, D and E

Additional objects can be a covers of solid-fuel reverse engines. It may be four elements. With 2 satellites and 1 stage - total seven objects.

We've seen these "covers of solid-fuel reverse engines" for CZ-2C.
I called them "retro rocket fairing tops" (from Chinese 反推火箭整流罩封头) see here or here.
So if they have been used for this CZ-4B, we could expect Objects F and G...

[input~2]

From the patch on NUDT personnel uniform in a picture above, "Tiantuo" is translated as "Space Pioneer"