Space Brief 6 May 2025
Today's brief covers a significant hypersonic flight by Stratolaunch, the US Space Force's missile warning upgrades, and major government space investments.
ZHONGXING-6C (44067)
COSPAR: 2019-012A | Alt Name: Zhongxing 6C
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
March 9, 2019
Launch Site
XICLF
Launch Pad
LC3
Launch Vehicle
Chang Zheng 3B
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
44067
International Designator
2019-012A
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:57:12 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
0.07°
Right Ascension
69.53°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
342.99°
Period
1436.11 min
Mean Motion
1.00 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
ZHONGXING-6C
Alternative Name
Zhongxing 6C
Type
Payload
Status
Partially operational
Owner
ZLZB
Country
China
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 44067U 19012A 26185.24806194 -.00000323 00000-0 00000-0 0 9999
2 44067 0.0659 69.5255 0014723 342.9912 89.4709 1.00270602 26915
Source: Celestrak
Summary
The ZHONGXING-6C satellite, also known as Zhongxing 6C, was launched on March 9, 2019, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (Launch Pad LC3) using a Chang Zheng 3B launch vehicle. It has a DFH-4 bus configuration and is manufactured by CAST for ZLZB. The satellite measures 5 meters in length with a diameter of 2.5 meters and a span of 30 meters, featuring two deployable solar arrays and batteries for power generation. Equipped with 25 C-band transponders, its primary mission is communication and it has a dry mass of 2,500 kg and launch mass of 5,250 kg. The satellite's shape is described as a box with two panels and is expected to have an operational lifetime of 15 years.
Physical Characteristics
Length
5
Diameter
2.5
Span
30
Dry Mass
2500
Launch Mass
5250
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Zhongxing 6C
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
CAST
Life Expectancy
15 years
Bus
DFH-4
Configuration
DFH-4 bus
Motor
DFH-4 LAE
Equipment
25 C-band transponder
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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