Space Brief 29 May 2025
Today's brief covers a Japanese military satellite launch, new GPS satellite orders by the Space Force, and a Moog propulsion system contract, among other notable developments.
TIANLIAN 1-05 (49011)
COSPAR: 2021-063A | Alt Name: Tian Lian 1-05
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
July 6, 2021
Launch Site
XICLF
Launch Pad
LC2
Launch Vehicle
Chang Zheng 3C
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
49011
International Designator
2021-063A
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:24:47 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
1.64°
Right Ascension
80.57°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
46.62°
Period
1436.09 min
Mean Motion
1.00 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
TIANLIAN 1-05
Alternative Name
Tian Lian 1-05
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
CAST
Country
China
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 49011U 21063A 26185.22555069 .00000120 00000-0 00000-0 0 9996
2 49011 1.6350 80.5693 0000846 46.6164 253.1072 1.00272385 18241
Source: Celestrak
Summary
TIANLIAN 1-05 (also known as Tian Lian 1-05) is a communication satellite launched by CAST on July 6, 2021, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center using the Chang Zheng 3C launch vehicle at LC2. The spacecraft uses the DFH-3 Bus configuration and has dimensions of 6 meters in length, 1.7 meters in diameter, and a span of 18.1 meters. It has a dry mass of 1050 kilograms and was launched with a mass of 2500 kilograms. The satellite is powered by two deployable solar arrays and batteries, equipped with the FY-25 motor for propulsion, and its primary purpose is communication. The expected lifetime of TIANLIAN 1-05 is 8 years.
Physical Characteristics
Length
6
Diameter
1.7
Span
18.1
Dry Mass
1050
Launch Mass
2500
Shape
Box + 2 Pan + Dish
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Tianlian-1 05 xing
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
CAST
Life Expectancy
8 years
Bus
DFH-3
Configuration
DFH-3 Bus
Motor
FY-25
Equipment
Unknown
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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