Gaofen 12 - CZ-4C - Taiyuan - November 27, 2019 (23:52 UTC)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://twitter.com/LaunchStuff/status/1197516706991820800

https://twitter.com/LaunchStuff/status/1197528656698134529

Chinese sources do anticipate an LM-4C launch in recent days so this would fit.
Alas no payload can be identified with it - the only known choice, FY-3E, doesn't fit with the launch time (06:00 LT at desc. node SSO would require a T-0 closer to 22:45 UTC). So, um, something else maybe?

[zubenelgenubi]

As of this post, we have two or more mystery payloads launching on the same UTC date!

(This launch and the Soyuz-2-1v/Volga launch from Plesetsk)
***

EDITs 11/24 11/25: Three Two One orbital launches scheduled for 11/25 UTC!
The Kosmos launch from Plesetsk, VA250 from Kourou, and this launch.

[Josh_from_Canada]

If this launch is a Long March 4C then Fengyun 3E seems like the most likely payload because of this document from earlier in the year: http://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/psa/activities/2019/UNChinaSymSDGs/Presentations/FY_Programs_Applications_short.pdf

It states on the second last page that the Fengyun 3 satellites will have a "Early Morning", "Morning", and "Afternoon" orbit. Fengyun 3A and Fengyun 3B were both R&D satellites as stated by the document while satellites after Fengyun 3C are operational satellites. Fengyun 3C is in the "Morning" orbit while Fengyun 3D is in the "Afternoon" orbit. The launch time of this mission (around 08:00 Chinese time) matches up with to the proposed "Early Morning" orbit. The Document also says that Fengyun 3E is planned to be launched before the end of the year.

I guess we have to wait and see if this is the payload on this mission. 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

There are reports that this launch's payload will receive a Ziyuan-XX designation.
Apparently there were previous reports of a 1 meter resolution C-band radar satellite planned for SASTIND, so maybe this is it? The early morning local launch time fits with the polar orbit used by radar satellites.

[Liss]

Judging from launch time, the planned LTDN is 07:00.

[russianhalo117]

Could it be:
2019
?? - CZ-4B - TSLC, LC9 - ZY-3 Ziyuan-3 (3)

[zubenelgenubi]

Could it be:
2019
?? - CZ-4B - TSLC, LC9 - ZY-3 Ziyuan-3 (3)

If so, it's launching to a SSO with a different LTDN--0700 vs. 1030.
Gaofen-7 launched at 03:22 UTC.

Gunter lists Gaofen-7 as a similar, yet improved Ziyuan-3.

The previous 2 ZY-3's were launched to SSO's with a LTDN circa 10:30 am.  Both launched at 03:17 UTC.

(LTDN = local time descending node)

ZY-3 #1 launch thread
ZY-3 #2 launch thread

[russianhalo117]

Could it be:
2019
?? - CZ-4B - TSLC, LC9 - ZY-3 Ziyuan-3 (3)

If so, it's launching to a SSO with a different LTDN--0700 vs. 1030.
Gaofen-7 launched at 03:22 UTC.

Gunter lists Gaofen-7 as a similar, yet improved Ziyuan-3.

The previous 2 ZY-3's were launched to SSO's with a LTDN circa 10:30 am.  Both launched at 03:17 UTC.

(LTDN = local time descending node)

ZY-3 #1 launch thread
ZY-3 #2 launch thread

XY-XX would be the first radar sat in the series if all info is indeed correct.

[zubenelgenubi]

Judging from launch time, the planned LTDN is 07:00.

ZY-XX would be the first radar sat in the series if all info is indeed correct.

Function drives form.

A SSO with LTDN of 0700 would be near a dawn/dusk LTDN SSO?

Such an orbit also allows a fixed solar array to be (nearly?) constantly illuminated?  One less drive to fail?

SARsats need substantial electrical power for radar emission, and IIRC there are other SARsats utilizing similar orbits.

QED?

[tehwkd]

Notam removed ~19h before window open

[Steven Pietrobon]

SFF is giving 30 November as the launch date, but that just might be because that's the end of the month. They are also saying the launch is a CZ-4C.

http://www.spaceflightfans.cn/event/china-long-march-4c-rocket-launch-satellite-2?instance_id=2920

9ifly thread is giving 2X November as the launch date.

http://www.9ifly.cn/forum-7-1.html

The control ship is apparently still in the area for a CZ-4C launch.

"Yuan Wang 7 is also in the 4C measurement and control area."
http://www.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=92804&pid=695340

"As of tonight, Yuan Wang 7 is still hovering in the sea."
http://www.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=92804&pid=695349

[Steven Pietrobon]

Yuan Wang 7 is located off the west coast of Australia.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

One insider just posted on a forum that the launch "should be in 3 days' time" so expect this to happen around November 28 UTC.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Someone else is saying 30 November, but that looks to be replying on the SFF page.

"Put off until the 30th."

http://www.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=92804&pid=695393

[tehwkd]

A6027/19 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY: N301025E1093733-N300749E1095600-N293025E1094858-N293301E1093039 BACK TO START.VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. ALL ACFT SHALL BE FORBIDDEN TO FLY INTO THE RESTRICTED AREA. GND - UNL, 27 NOV 23:45 2019 UNTIL 28 NOV 00:10 2019. CREATED: 26 NOV 10:33 2019

[zubenelgenubi]

We're now within the NOTAM window.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Nothing yet so far.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Launch should be happening about now.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Its the end of the window. No reports of launch yet on 9ifly.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Launch!

http://www.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=92804&pid=696032

"Lin Xiaoyi
2 minutes ago from Weibo Video
At about 07:52 BST on November 28, 2019, China carried out a space launch mission at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center."