Ludi Tance-4 01 - CZ-3B/G3 - Xichang - August 12, 2023 (17:26 UTC)

• #20 by FutureSpaceTourist on 12 Aug, 2023 20:24
• https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/1690458685653602304
  
  

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  🚀 A Long March 3B launched LuDiTanCe-4-01, world's first SAR satellite in (inclined) geosynchronous orbit, from Xichang at ~17:26UTC on August 12.
• #21 by Galactic Penguin SST on 12 Aug, 2023 21:56
• This paper considers the different requirements and determined in the conclusions to design a GSO L-Band SAR satellite inclined 53 degrees to the equator: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667325821000674
  
  https://twitter.com/cosmic_penguin/status/1690479990901809152

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• #22 by FutureSpaceTourist on 12 Aug, 2023 22:16
• https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/1690486913621508096
  
  

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  Mission patch

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• #23 by Vahe231991 on 13 Aug, 2023 03:51
• https://twitter.com/CNSpaceflight/status/1690570684475600896
• #24 by Steven Pietrobon on 13 Aug, 2023 04:20
• Pixel counting using a third stage diameter of 3.0 m, I get 4.15 m for the fairing, which indicates this is a CZ-3B/G3 with a 4.2 m fairing (the CZ-3B/G2 has a fairing diameter of 4.0 m).

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• #25 by mikezang on 13 Aug, 2023 04:21
• The number is Y92.
• #26 by FutureSpaceTourist on 13 Aug, 2023 07:01
• #27 by FutureSpaceTourist on 13 Aug, 2023 07:33
• https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1690500229475487744
  
  

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  CelesTrak has GP data for 1 object from the launch (2023-120) of L-SAR4 01 atop a Long March-3B rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Aug 12 at 1726 UTC: english.news.cn/20230813/73448…. Data for the launch can be found at: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/table.php?INTDES=2023-120

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• #28 by Alter Sachse on 13 Aug, 2023 09:29
• I think in the foreground we see LC3 and the launch was from LC2.
  
  

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• #29 by Alter Sachse on 13 Aug, 2023 12:38
• They call him GEOSAR.
  Is this the long awaited GEOSAR ?
• #30 by FutureSpaceTourist on 14 Aug, 2023 03:47
• https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/1690912736149217280
  
  

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  Allegedly a spent Long March 3B stage made a fireball over Huaihua, Hunan
  video from Douyin
• #31 by input~2 on 22 Aug, 2023 15:33
• High-orbit synthetic aperture radar satellite enters operational orbit
• #32 by Steven Pietrobon on 23 Aug, 2023 05:45
• A wild guess to what the ground resolution is. Ideal resolution for a fixed mirror is given by
  
  d = 2*R*tan(1.22*c*180/(2*f*D*pi))
  
  d = ground resolution (km)
  R = distance to ground (at best 35,786 km)
  c = speed of light (299,792,458 m/s)
  f = frequency (guess about 40 GHz. the upper edge of Ka band)
  D = antenna diameter (guess about 15 m)
  
  which gives d = 22 km. As SAR is being used, the resolution should be a lot better, but I don't know how to calculate that.
• #33 by input~2 on 23 Aug, 2023 09:16
• Satellite LAN could be 90°E
• #34 by input~2 on 24 Aug, 2023 12:49
• Quote from: input~2 on 23 Aug, 2023 09:16

  Satellite LAN could be 90°E
  

  Confirmed with last TLE from SpaceTrack at epoch Aug 22, 23:11 UTC
  
  LUDI TANCE-4 01A geostationary at 89.2°E inclined orbit: 16.1°
• #35 by Liss on 24 Aug, 2023 14:06
• An image of the spacecraft:
  
  

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