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SJ-6

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SJ-6-2A SJ-6C Credit: Manufacturer Image

AKA: Shi Jian 6. Status: Operational 2004. First Launch: 2004-09-08. Last Launch: 2013-10-25. Number: 6 . Gross mass: 2,700 kg (5,900 lb).

Under cover of the SJ (Shijian) Chinese scientific research series, the government began launching pairs of satellites in 2006 that were believed to have a military ELINT mission.

The satellites were placed in sun-synchronous orbits at 600 km altitude. The second was separated about a minute after the first. The second pair was launched two years after the first. Chinese ELINT systems had been tested on earlier flights of the manned Shenzhou spacecraft's orbital module.

Photo Gallery

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Shi Jian 16 Credit: Manufacturer Image

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• SJ-6-01A SJ-6A - . Payload: Shi Jian 6B. Mass: 800 kg (1,760 lb). Nation: China. Agency: SISE. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: SJ-6. USAF Sat Cat: 28413 . COSPAR: 2004-035A. Apogee: 593 km (368 mi). Perigee: 578 km (359 mi). Inclination: 97.70 deg. Period: 96.40 min.

  It was announced that the two satellites had a design life of at least two years, and would be used to probe the space environment, radiation and its effects, record space physical environment parameters, and conduct other related space experiments. The two satellites were built by the Shanghai Academy of Space Flight Technology and Dongfanghong Satellite Company under subcontract to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The scientific instruments aboard the satellites were mainly manufactured by the China Electronics Technology Corporation. Some Western observors believed the mission of the satellites included electronic intelligence technology tests.

• SJ-6-02A SJ-6C - . Mass: 2,700 kg (5,900 lb). Nation: China. Agency: SISE. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval signals intelligence satellite. Spacecraft: SJ-6. USAF Sat Cat: 29505 . COSPAR: 2006-046A. Apogee: 598 km (371 mi). Perigee: 594 km (369 mi). Inclination: 97.70 deg. Period: 96.60 min. Replaced the SJ-6 Group 1 satellites A and B. Official purpose was to measure the space environment, but foreign analysts suspected a SIGINT role..

• SJ-6-03A SJ-6E - . Mass: 2,700 kg (5,900 lb). Nation: China. Agency: SISE. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: SJ-6. USAF Sat Cat: 33408 . COSPAR: 2008-053A. Apogee: 603 km (374 mi). Perigee: 584 km (362 mi). Inclination: 97.70 deg. Period: 96.50 min. Third pair in China's SJ military surveillance constellation. It has been suggested that each pair consists of two differing satellites, a smaller minisatellite built by SAST Shanghai and a larger 300-kg CAST-968 bus satellite from DFH..

• SJ-6-04A SJ-6G - . Payload: SJ-6/4A. Mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Nation: China. Agency: SISE. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: SJ-6. USAF Sat Cat: 37179 . COSPAR: 2010-051A. Apogee: 606 km (376 mi). Perigee: 587 km (364 mi). Inclination: 97.70 deg. Period: 96.60 min. Fourth pair of SJ-6 military surveillance satellites..

• SJ-15 - . Mass: 2,700 kg (5,900 lb). Nation: China. Class: Technology. Type: Technology satellite. Spacecraft: SJ-6. USAF Sat Cat: 39210 . COSPAR: 2013-037C. Apogee: 608 km (377 mi). Perigee: 563 km (349 mi). Inclination: 97.68 deg. Period: 96.39 min.

  Thought to be carrying out observations of space debris. Made a slight orbit adjustment of 1 km on 15 October to a 660 km x 675 km orbit, then released a new object, 2013-037J, with which it maintained stationkeeping within 2 km. The new object was perhaps a target subsatellite, possibly passive, for experiments with proximity operations.

• SJ-16 - . Payload: SJ-16. Mass: 2,700 kg (5,900 lb). Nation: China. Class: Technology. Type: Technology satellite. Spacecraft: SJ-6. USAF Sat Cat: 39358 . COSPAR: 2013-057A. Apogee: 614 km (381 mi). Perigee: 599 km (372 mi). Inclination: 74.98 deg. Period: 96.82 min. The mission of SJ-16 is unknown; the orbit represents a new profile for the series. The SJ ('practice') series satellites carry a mix of technology development and military payloads..