Author Topic: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch  (Read 21708 times)

Offline Satori

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Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« on: 10/24/2008 04:04 pm »
China will launch two Shi Jian-6 satellites on October 25th
« Last Edit: 10/24/2008 04:17 pm by Satori »

Offline Jirka Dlouhy

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #1 on: 10/24/2008 07:09 pm »

Offline William Graham

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #2 on: 10/25/2008 07:00 am »
Launch has occurred. It was sometime before 04:00 GMT, does anyone have anything more exact?
« Last Edit: 10/25/2008 07:04 am by GW_Simulations »

Offline Satori

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #3 on: 10/25/2008 08:05 am »
Shi Jian-6 Group 03 CZ-4B launch photos. At this time I don't have any other info regarding this launch :(

Photos: Xinhua
« Last Edit: 10/25/2008 08:08 am by Satori »

Offline Phillip Clark

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #4 on: 10/25/2008 08:07 am »
Launch has occurred. It was sometime before 04:00 GMT, does anyone have anything more exact?

My calculations suggest 01:15 UT.   I have not seen a Chinese launch time yet.


The behaviour of this pair of satellites will be interesting.   When the first cluster was launched satellite B performed some manoeuvres while A did not: this fits with some Chinese illustrations showing the satellites as being a (non-manoeuvrable) FY-1 platform and a (manoeuvable) CAST-968 platform.   However, on the second cluster *neither* satellite manoeuvred.   Let's see what happens with the new pair of satellites.
« Last Edit: 10/25/2008 08:08 am by Phillip Clark »
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Offline Satori

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #5 on: 10/25/2008 08:16 am »
Launch has occurred. It was sometime before 04:00 GMT, does anyone have anything more exact?

My calculations suggest 01:15 UT.   I have not seen a Chinese launch time yet.



I think you are right this Phillip, according to this http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-10/25/content_10249253.htm

Offline Phillip Clark

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #6 on: 10/25/2008 08:35 am »
news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-10/25/content_10249253.htm

I had seen those photos but on the People's Daily page with them there was no launch time quoted.

I should have mentioned this last time .......... I had expected that the CZ-4C might have replaced the 4B, but it looks as if the two variants will be used in parallel.   When the 4B was introduced the 4A launches had ceased.

On the other hand, we have the similar 2C and 2D both flying ...........
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Offline James Lowe1

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Offline Phillip Clark

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #8 on: 10/25/2008 07:49 pm »
Article from Rui:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/china-dual-launch-via-chang-zheng-4b/

The quoted article suggests that there is something particularly myserious about this pair of launches compaired with the two earlier pairs of Shijian 6 satellites.

In fact, none of these launches has been completey explained.   Apart from a graphic which appeared at the time of the first launch - which represented the satellites with a FY-1 platform and a CAST-968 platform - no photographs, illustratons or other details of the satellites have been given.   No research programme has been announced other than very general Earth orbit research.

So, along with the still-manoeuvring Shijian 7 satellite from 2005, the Shijian 6 satellites have still to be fully explained by observers of China's space programme.   An ELINT role has been suggested for Shijian 6, based upon some of the Chinese organisations which have been involved with the satellites' instrumentation, but nothing is confirmed.
« Last Edit: 10/25/2008 07:58 pm by Phillip Clark »
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Offline James Lowe1

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #9 on: 10/25/2008 07:56 pm »


The quoted article suggests that there is something particularly myserious about this pair of launches compaired with the two earlier pairs of Shijian 6 satellits.

It is compared to their more publicized launches, not when compared to the other Shijan launches. That's what's been said.

China's State Media know when to give expansive details, and when not to, because it's China.
« Last Edit: 10/25/2008 07:57 pm by James Lowe1 »

Offline darklighter

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #10 on: 10/26/2008 10:39 am »
This is the inaugural launch from a brand new launch complex (or "发射工位", Fashe Gongwei, launch station) at TSLC. (not difficult to find out, if you compare the photo with previous ones)

Related Chinese media report:
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/10-25/1425211.shtml
"See you tomorrow, curator."

Offline edkyle99

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #11 on: 10/27/2008 01:35 am »
This is the inaugural launch from a brand new launch complex (or "发射工位", Fashe Gongwei, launch station) at TSLC. (not difficult to find out, if you compare the photo with previous ones)

Related Chinese media report:
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/10-25/1425211.shtml

Thanks.  I was just wondering about this, after looking at the photos.  Now I'm wondering where this pad is in relation to the original pad.  The original pad is here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=38.849+N,+111.608+E&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=38.849434,111.608005&spn=0.00747,0.021629&t=k&om=1&iwloc=addr

 - Ed Kyle

Online Liss

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #12 on: 11/06/2008 10:55 am »
I'm wondering this too. Maybe it's too early to search for it: it was not before June 2006 that the construction of the second CZ-4B pad began.
By the way, is it safe to say that another launch pad at 38.835N 111.606E, some 1.5 km to the South, is the one used for DF-5/DF-31/KT-1 launches?
This message reflects my personal opinion based on open sources of information.

Online Liss

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #13 on: 11/06/2008 11:25 am »
The behaviour of this pair of satellites will be interesting.   When the first cluster was launched satellite B performed some manoeuvres while A did not: this fits with some Chinese illustrations showing the satellites as being a (non-manoeuvrable) FY-1 platform and a (manoeuvable) CAST-968 platform.

Well, for the sake of accuracy I would say that the one who did manoeuvre was 28413 = 2004-035A and it's last manoeuvre was in September, 2007, more than three years after the launch. This is the satellite we call Shijian-6-01B, and the non-manoevrable one is Shijian-6-01A = 28414 = 2004-035B.

However, on the second cluster *neither* satellite manoeuvred.   Let's see what happens with the new pair of satellites.

It is not quite correct because in fact object Shijian-6-02B = 29505 = 2006-046A did a small manoeuvre on December 22, 2006, resulting in mean motion change from 14.9037 to 14.9047.

As of the 2008 launch, we are seeing Shijian-6-03B = 33408 = 2008-053A manoeuvres already.
This message reflects my personal opinion based on open sources of information.

Offline Satori

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #14 on: 11/06/2008 11:38 am »
I'm wondering this too. Maybe it's too early to search for it: it was not before June 2006 that the construction of the second CZ-4B pad began.

On Google Earth we can see what there seems to be a construction site at 38º 48,703' N  111º 36,575' E, 4,1 km S from pad 1. Can this be the place of the new pad?

Online Liss

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #15 on: 11/07/2008 09:20 am »
As of the 2008 launch, we are seeing Shijian-6-03B = 33408 = 2008-053A manoeuvres already.
Moreover, 33408 has already finished her maneuvers (Oct 27 -- Nov 3) and took the same orbital height as 33409.
This message reflects my personal opinion based on open sources of information.

Online Liss

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #16 on: 11/10/2008 09:21 am »
Apart from a graphic which appeared at the time of the first launch - which represented the satellites with a FY-1 platform and a CAST-968 platform - no photographs, illustratons or other details of the satellites have been given.
The fact is that A and B satellites are indeed built on the basis of FY-1 and CAST-968. There are Chinese articles to confirm this.
By the way, I found the complete list of CAST-968 based satellites launched by December 2007: Haiyan-1A and 1B, Tance-1 and 2, Shijian 6B (two), Shiyan weixing-2 and Yaogan weixing-2.
This message reflects my personal opinion based on open sources of information.

Offline osiossim

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Re: Shi Jian-6 Group 03 Launch
« Reply #17 on: 11/11/2008 10:19 am »

The fact is that A and B satellites are indeed built on the basis of FY-1 and CAST-968. There are Chinese articles to confirm this.
By the way, I found the complete list of CAST-968 based satellites launched by December 2007: Haiyan-1A and 1B, Tance-1 and 2, Shijian 6B (two), Shiyan weixing-2 and Yaogan weixing-2.


Add Huan Jing-1A and Huan Jing-1B

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