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Shi Jian 11-06, CZ-2C, JSLC - March 31, 2014 (0246UTC)
by
beidou
on 28 Nov, 2013 06:33
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Though not confirmed, this has been expected as the first Chinese launch in 2014.
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#1
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 27 Mar, 2014 08:38
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I wonder if
this is related?
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#2
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 28 Mar, 2014 14:41
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These drop zones are the same as those for Shi Jian 11-05 launched with CZ-2C on July 15, 2013; so it does look like a new launch with CZ-2C from Jiuquan on March 31
Indeed the launch time and drop zones are suggestive of this being the launch of SJ-11-06 (in fact a launch time of 02:45 UTC - 5 minutes before the Dragon was supposed to go - would be just right for launching into the plane of SJ-11-01,
now into its fifth year of operations and is probably beyond its lifetime).
The problem is, of course, there is no direct evidence this time (not even indications of CALT/CAST people working at JSLC right now!)........
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#3
by
russianhalo117
on 28 Mar, 2014 18:24
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These drop zones are the same as those for Shi Jian 11-05 launched with CZ-2C on July 15, 2013; so it does look like a new launch with CZ-2C from Jiuquan on March 31
Indeed the launch time and drop zones are suggestive of this being the launch of SJ-11-06 (in fact a launch time of 02:45 UTC - 5 minutes before the Dragon was supposed to go - would be just right for launching into the plane of SJ-11-01, now into its fifth year of operations and is probably beyond its lifetime).
The problem is, of course, there is no direct evidence this time (not even indications of CALT/CAST people working at JSLC right now!)........
I seem to remember a two launchers arriving simultaneously in early November 2013, but did not fly at the end of 2013, so it is probably still there.
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#4
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 30 Mar, 2014 15:57
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Still no direct confirmation of any launch happening....... whoops.
Regardless it does seems to be worth watching if anything happens...
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#5
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 31 Mar, 2014 01:41
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Still no direct confirmation of any launch happening....... whoops. Regardless it does seems to be worth watching if anything happens...
Still nothing.....but then there's this:
A0358/14 - THE FLW SEGMENTS OF ATS RTE CLSD: 1. Y1: AKAGI - OMBON. 2. Y2: MEPEP - LUVAR. 3. L888: MUMAN - SANLI. 31 MAR 02:30 2014 UNTIL 31 MAR 03:10 2014. CREATED: 30 MAR 14:26 20141 hour left....
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#6
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 31 Mar, 2014 02:47
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Time's up - nothing yet.....
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#7
by
Chris Bergin
on 31 Mar, 2014 02:49
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Hmmm. Standing by!
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#8
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 31 Mar, 2014 03:13
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Apparently successfully launched at 02:58 UTC (and yes it is indeed SJ-11-06) - searching for the Xinhua press release right now...
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#9
by
Chris Bergin
on 31 Mar, 2014 03:17
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#10
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 31 Mar, 2014 03:39
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#11
by
Artyom.
on 31 Mar, 2014 05:10
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From Xinhua in English:
China launches experimental satellite
China successfully launched an experimental satellite into preset orbit from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in its northwestern gobi desert on Monday morning.
The Shijian-11-06 was boosted by a Long March-2C carrier rocket at 10:58 Beijing Time. The satellite, which was developed by China Spacesat Co. Ltd under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, will be used to conduct scientific experiments in space.
This was the 189th flight of the Long March rocket series.
http://www.ecns.cn/2014/03-31/107335.shtmlAnd launch photo (
source):
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#12
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 31 Mar, 2014 06:29
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#13
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 31 Mar, 2014 09:02
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From Xinhua in English:
China launches experimental satellite
China successfully launched an experimental satellite into preset orbit from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in its northwestern gobi desert on Monday morning.
The Shijian-11-06 was boosted by a Long March-2C carrier rocket at 10:58 Beijing Time. The satellite, which was developed by China Spacesat Co. Ltd under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, will be used to conduct scientific experiments in space.
This was the 189th flight of the Long March rocket series.
http://www.ecns.cn/2014/03-31/107335.shtml
And launch photo (source):
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#14
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 31 Mar, 2014 09:04
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#15
by
input~2
on 31 Mar, 2014 09:05
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First object catalogued by USSTRATCOM:
2014-014A/39624 at epoch March 31, 0351UTC
in 681 x 703 km x 98.27°
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#16
by
weedenbc
on 31 Mar, 2014 11:04
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Very good, thanks!
Rui's article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/03/china-open-2014-secret-satellite-launch/
I still don't see why some are characterizing this as "early warning". That's not done from a LEO orbit but rather from HEO/GEO.
If the comparison is to STSS, that's not early warning of missile launches but tracking and characterization. Very different:
http://www.mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/stss.pdfAnd even in that case, this is almost certainly not an operational system but rather a test & demonstration system (just like STSS). With only a few satellites in LEO, there's nowhere near continuous coverage of any particular region.
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#17
by
input~2
on 31 Mar, 2014 14:50
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An illustration of the coverage zones of the various SJ-11 today at 1445UTC
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#18
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 31 Mar, 2014 14:54
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I think the launch of this satellite puts a pause on the "SJ-11 = C-STSS" theory - it seems strange for the Chinese to put up a STSS-esque early warning system without the addition of high orbit or geostationary satellites.
An alternative theory I have recently seen over the Chinese forums deduce that - given that the same chief designer of the SJ-11 (Li Yiandong) also worked on the YG-9 constellation and the SJ-9B series, and both worked in constellations on the surveillance role (SJ-9B probably on ELINT/radar and YG-9 on NOSS), searching on targets at unknown places (as opposed to the "reconnaissance role", filled in by the other members of the YG series), SJ-11 might turn out to be working in the wide angle optical/infrared surveillance role.
Any comments?
Source
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#19
by
weedenbc
on 31 Mar, 2014 15:01
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Yes, ISR is much more of a feasible role. Again, early warning is not feasible from LEO without many, many satellites. STSS is really providing tracking/characterization/targeting data on ballistic missiles, not serving an early warning function.
Regardless it does seems to be worth watching if anything happens...
