Are these genuine civilian satellites or convert military, or even dual use?
That is a very good question indeed. Perhaps my "Cold War cynicism" is lingering for too long but I normally assume either military or dual-role.
Are these genuine civilian satellites or convert military, or even dual use?
That is a very good question indeed. Perhaps my "Cold War cynicism" is lingering for too long but I normally assume either military or dual-role.
It certainly looks at least dual use by the lack of information before launch.
Exact launch time was 04:14:26.237 UTC.
Launch code is 01-85.
Are these genuine civilian satellites or convert military, or even dual use?
In states like PRC, it is difficult to draw a distinctive line between military and civil governmental use.
Are these genuine civilian satellites or convert military, or even dual use?
In states like PRC, it is difficult to draw a distinctive line between military and civil governmental use.
I suppose the better question would have been who will their majority users be.
Catalogued as 2017-084A/43080. The orbit is coplanar with the first satellite in the series.
Confirmed!
LKW-2's orbit at epoch 10:04Z: 491 x 502 km x 97.46° RAAN: 70.60° 2017-084A/43080
LKW-1's orbit at epoch 04:52Z: 488 x 504 km x 97.46° RAAN: 69.72° 2017-077A/43034
Satellite longitude difference: 180°
LTDN: 10:30 am
Two bigger photos for the record: