DFH-3 Satellite Bus

Data current as of 2026-07-20.

The DFH-3 bus accounts for 34 cataloged objects, of which 30 are in orbit and 13 are active. 4 have reentered. Most are built by CAST. The largest operator on this bus is CNSA. The first launched in 1994, the most recent in 2021.

30
In orbit
13
Active
34
Total launched
4
Reentered

DFH-3 launched per year

2 4 6 1994: 2 launched, 1 since reentered 1995: 0 objects launched 1996: 0 objects launched 1997: 1 object launched 1998: 0 objects launched 1999: 0 objects launched 2000: 3 objects launched 2001: 0 objects launched 2002: 0 objects launched 2003: 2 objects launched 2004: 0 objects launched 2005: 0 objects launched 2006: 1 object launched 2007: 4 launched, 1 since reentered 2008: 1 object launched 2009: 0 objects launched 2010: 4 objects launched 2011: 4 objects launched 2012: 5 objects launched 2013: 1 launched, 1 since reentered 2014: 1 launched, 1 since reentered 2015: 0 objects launched 2016: 2 objects launched 2017: 0 objects launched 2018: 2 objects launched 2019: 0 objects launched 2020: 0 objects launched 2021: 1 object launched 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019
Still in orbit Since reentered Click a year to list its satellites.

Typical specifications

Most common values across cataloged DFH-3 satellites.

Manufacturer CAST
Purpose Navigation
Launch mass 2300 kg
Dry mass 1300 kg
Length 3 m
Diameter 1.7 m
Span 18 m
Shape Box + 2 Pan
Power 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Propulsion FY-25
Design life 8 years
Equipment ?
Typical orbit 1436 min period, 10° inclination

Top operators

CNSA 17 CAST 5 CASC 4 ZZB 4 CHIS 2 CASC1 1 SINO 1

Top countries

CN 34

DFH-3 satellites

Track any of them live in KeepTrack.

Name NORAD COSPAR Owner Launched Orbit Status Track
TIANLIAN 1-05 Tian Lian 1-05 49011 2021-063A CAST Jul 6, 2021 1436 min, 1.7° Active
CHANG'E-4 Chang'e-4 43845 2018-103A CASC Dec 7, 2018 90 min, 28.9° Active
BEIDOU-2 IGSO-7 Beidou DW 32 43539 2018-057A CNSA Jul 9, 2018 1437 min, 55.2° Active
TIANLIAN 1-04 Tian Lian 1-04 41869 2016-072A CAST Nov 22, 2016 1436 min, 0.9° Active
BEIDOU-2 IGSO-6 Beidou DW 22 41434 2016-021A CNSA Mar 29, 2016 1436 min, 60.2° Active
CHANG'E-5 T1 Chang'e-5 Feixing Shiyan Qi 40283 2014-065A CNSA Oct 23, 2014 15746 min, 30.5° Reentered
CHANG'E-3 Chang'e-3 39458 2013-070A CASC Dec 1, 2013 · Reentered
BEIDOU-2 M6 Beidou DW 15 38775 2012-050B CNSA Sep 18, 2012 773 min, 56.6° Active
BEIDOU-2 M5 Beidou DW 14 38774 2012-050A CNSA Sep 18, 2012 773 min, 56.5° Inactive
TIANLIAN 1-03 Tian Lian 1-03 38730 2012-040A CAST Jul 25, 2012 1456 min, 5.9° Inactive
BEIDOU-2 M4 Beidou DW 13 38251 2012-018B CNSA Apr 29, 2012 773 min, 55.6° Active
BEIDOU-2 M3 Beidou DW 12 38250 2012-018A CNSA Apr 29, 2012 773 min, 55.7° Active
BEIDOU-2 IGSO-5 Beidou DW 10 37948 2011-073A CNSA Dec 1, 2011 1436 min, 47.6° Active
BEIDOU-2 IGSO-4 Beidou DW 9 37763 2011-038A CNSA Jul 26, 2011 1436 min, 54.6° Active
TIANLIAN 1-02 Tian Lian 1-02 37737 2011-032A CAST Jul 11, 2011 1455 min, 5.6° Inactive
BEIDOU-2 IGSO-3 Beidou DW 8 37384 2011-013A CNSA Apr 9, 2011 1436 min, 62.5° Active
BEIDOU-2 IGSO-2 Beidou DW 7 37256 2010-068A CNSA Dec 17, 2010 1436 min, 47.5° Active
ZHONGXING-20A Zhongxing 20A 37234 2010-064A ZZB Nov 24, 2010 1463 min, 7.4° Inactive
CHANG'E-2 Chang'e-2 37174 2010-050A CASC Oct 1, 2010 90 min, 29.2° Inactive
BEIDOU-2 IGSO-1 Beidou DW 5 36828 2010-036A CNSA Jul 31, 2010 1436 min, 54.3° Active
TIANLIAN 1-01 Tian Lian 1-01 32779 2008-019A CAST Apr 25, 2008 1478 min, 10.2° Inactive
CHANG'E-1 Chang'e-1 32273 2007-051A CASC Oct 24, 2007 1445 min, 31.0° Reentered
EUTELSAT 8 WEST D Xinnuo 3 31577 2007-021A SINO May 31, 2007 1464 min, 9.6° Inactive
BEIDOU-2 M1 Beidou DW 1 31115 2007-011A CNSA Apr 13, 2007 812 min, 50.9° Inactive
BEIDOU-1 G4 Beidou DSW 4 30323 2007-003A CNSA Feb 2, 2007 1452 min, 10.0° Inactive
ZHONGXING-22A Zhongxing 22A 29398 2006-038A ZZB Sep 12, 2006 1438 min, 11.5° Inactive
ZHONGXING-20 Zhongxing 20 28082 2003-052A ZZB Nov 14, 2003 1453 min, 10.5° Inactive
BEIDOU-1 G3 Beidou DSW 3 27813 2003-021A CNSA May 24, 2003 1443 min, 11.4° Inactive
CHINASAT 31 (BEIDOU-1 G2) Beidou DSW 2 26643 2000-082A CNSA Dec 20, 2000 1451 min, 12.6° Inactive
CHINASAT 32 (BEIDOU-1 G1) Beidou DJW 26599 2000-069A CNSA Oct 30, 2000 1456 min, 12.4° Inactive
ZHONGXING-22 Zhongxing 22 26058 2000-003A ZZB Jan 25, 2000 1480 min, 12.5° Inactive
DFH 3-2 Zhongxing 6 24798 1997-021A CHIS May 11, 1997 1437 min, 13.5° Inactive
DFH 3-1 DFH-3 23415 1994-080A CHIS Nov 29, 1994 1426 min, 13.7° Inactive
DUMMY MASS Kua Fu 1 23009 1994-010B CASC1 Feb 8, 1994 89 min, 28.3° Reentered

Frequently asked questions

How many DFH-3 satellites are there?

The catalog lists 34 objects built on the DFH-3 bus. 30 are in orbit and 4 have reentered.

How many DFH-3 satellites are in orbit?

30 DFH-3 objects are currently in orbit, of which 13 carry an active status.

Who builds the DFH-3 bus?

The DFH-3 bus is most commonly built by CAST.

When did the first DFH-3 satellite launch?

The first cataloged DFH-3 satellite launched in 1994, and the most recent in 2021.

Satellite data compiled by KeepTrack from CelesTrak, Space-Track, and GCAT, provided under CC BY-NC 4.0.