BEIDOU-2 M6 (38775)

COSPAR: 2012-050B | Alt Name: Beidou DW 15

Image

Additional Sources

Launch Details

Launch Date

September 18, 2012

Launch Site

XICLF

Launch Pad

LC2

Launch Vehicle

Chang Zheng 3B

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

38775

International Designator

2012-050B

Epoch

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:39:35 GMT

Apogee

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Perigee

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Inclination

56.56°

Right Ascension

62.39°

Eccentricity

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Argument of Perigee

359.53°

Period

773.23 min

Mean Motion

1.86 rev/day

Latitude

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Longitude

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Altitude

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Velocity

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Polar Plot

3D Visualization

Basic Satellite Info

Name

BEIDOU-2 M6

Alternative Name

Beidou DW 15

Type

Payload

Status

Operational

Owner

CNSA

Country

China

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Latest TLEs

1 38775U 12050B   26183.40249258 -.00000038  00000-0  00000-0 0  9994

2 38775  56.5573  62.3914 0013275 359.5324   0.5356  1.86231039 93595

Source: Celestrak

Summary

The BEIDOU-2 M6 satellite, also known as Beidou DW 15, is operated by CNSA and was manufactured by CAST using a DFH-3 Bus configuration. Launched on September 18, 2012, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XICLF), LC2 pad, it utilized a Chang Zheng 3B launch vehicle for deployment into orbit. The satellite has dimensions of approximately 3 meters in length and 1.7 meters in diameter with a span of 18 meters due to its deployable elements. It weighed 2300 kg at launch and has a dry mass of 1300 kg. Equipped with two deployable solar arrays for power generation along with batteries, BEIDOU-2 M6 is designed for navigation purposes and has an operational lifetime of 8 years. The satellite's shape is described as a box with two panels and it has a radar cross-section (RCS) of 10 square meters.

Physical Characteristics

Length

Diameter

1.7

Span

Dry Mass

1300

Launch Mass

2300

Shape

Box + 2 Pan

Radar Cross Section

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Beidou-2 M6 (M2)

Purpose

Navigation

Mission

Navigation

Manufacturer

CAST

Life Expectancy

8 years

Bus

DFH-3

Configuration

DFH-3 Bus

Motor

FY-25

Equipment

Power System

2 deployable solar arrays, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

Map

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Latitude

Longitude

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