DFH-3B Satellite Bus

Data current as of 2026-07-20.

The DFH-3B bus accounts for 18 cataloged objects, of which 18 are in orbit and 15 are active. Most are built by CAST. The largest operator on this bus is CNSA. The first launched in 2009, the most recent in 2023.

18
In orbit
15
Active
18
Total launched
0
Reentered

DFH-3B launched per year

1 2 3 4 2009: 1 object launched 2010: 3 objects launched 2011: 0 objects launched 2012: 2 objects launched 2013: 0 objects launched 2014: 0 objects launched 2015: 1 object launched 2016: 1 object launched 2017: 1 object launched 2018: 1 object launched 2019: 4 objects launched 2020: 2 objects launched 2021: 0 objects launched 2022: 0 objects launched 2023: 2 objects launched 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023
Still in orbit Click a year to list its satellites.

Typical specifications

Most common values across cataloged DFH-3B satellites.

Manufacturer CAST
Purpose Navigation
Launch mass 3060 kg
Dry mass 1700 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, 0° inclination

Top operators

CNSA 16 CAST 1 LANAST/APMT 1

Top countries

CN 17 LA 1

DFH-3B satellites

Track any of them live in KeepTrack.

Name NORAD COSPAR Owner Launched Orbit Status Track
LUDI TANCE-4 01A Ludi Tance 4A 57624 2023-120A CNSA Aug 12, 2023 1436 min, 15.1° Active
BEIDOU-3 G4 Beidou DW 56 56564 2023-066A CNSA May 17, 2023 1436 min, 0.5° Active
BEIDOU-3 G3 Beidou DW 55 45807 2020-040A CNSA Jun 23, 2020 1436 min, 2.5° Active
BEIDOU-3 G2 Beidou DW 54 45344 2020-017A CNSA Mar 9, 2020 1436 min, 2.9° Active
BEIDOU-3 IGSO-3 Beidou DW 49 44709 2019-073A CNSA Nov 4, 2019 1436 min, 54.9° Active
BEIDOU-3 IGSO-2 Beidou DW 46 44337 2019-035A CNSA Jun 24, 2019 1436 min, 55.3° Active
BEIDOU-2 G8 Beidou DW 45 44231 2019-027A CNSA May 17, 2019 1436 min, 1.7° Active
BEIDOU-3 IGSO-1 Beidou DW 44 44204 2019-023A CNSA Apr 20, 2019 1436 min, 58.7° Active
BEIDOU-3 G1 Beidou DW 41 43683 2018-085A CNSA Nov 1, 2018 1436 min, 2.9° Active
CHINASAT 16 (SJ-13) Shi Jian 13 42662 2017-018A CAST Apr 12, 2017 1436 min, 0.1° Active
BEIDOU-2 G7 Beidou DW 23 41586 2016-037A CNSA Jun 12, 2016 1436 min, 1.8° Active
LAOSAT 1 LaoSat 1 41034 2015-067A LANAST/APMT Nov 20, 2015 1436 min, 0.0° Active
BEIDOU-2 G6 Beidou DW 16 38953 2012-059A CNSA Oct 25, 2012 1436 min, 4.5° Active
BEIDOU-2 G5 Beidou DW 11 38091 2012-008A CNSA Feb 24, 2012 1436 min, 3.7° Active
BEIDOU-2 G4 Beidou DW 6 37210 2010-057A CNSA Oct 31, 2010 1436 min, 3.7° Active
BEIDOU-2 G3 Beidou DW 4 36590 2010-024A CNSA Jun 2, 2010 1436 min, 4.6° Inactive
BEIDOU-2 G1 Beidou DW 3 36287 2010-001A CNSA Jan 16, 2010 1436 min, 4.4° Inactive
BEIDOU-2 G2 Beidou DW 2 34779 2009-018A CNSA Apr 14, 2009 1524 min, 11.5° Inactive

Frequently asked questions

How many DFH-3B satellites are there?

The catalog lists 18 objects built on the DFH-3B bus. 18 are in orbit and 0 have reentered.

How many DFH-3B satellites are in orbit?

18 DFH-3B objects are currently in orbit, of which 15 carry an active status.

Who builds the DFH-3B bus?

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

When did the first DFH-3B satellite launch?

The first cataloged DFH-3B satellite launched in 2009, and the most recent in 2023.

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