China launched its second Yaogan-42 reconnaissance satellite last week, weeks after sending its first satellite into a similar orbit. The Long March 2D rocket was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on April 20 at 19:45 Eastern (23:34 UTC). The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced the successful launch within an hour.

In the CASC statement, it was stated that the previously undisclosed payload was the second batch of Yaogan-42 satellites. Yaogan translates as “remote sensing”. Neither CASC nor Chinese state media have published any details about the satellites. These statements did not include the usual general descriptions of the Yaogan satellites.

Some Yaogan satellites are designed for purposes such as land survey, yield evaluation, environmental management, meteorological warning and forecasting, and natural disaster prevention and mitigation. Other uses include “detection of the electromagnetic environment and related technical testing.”

Yaogan-42 (02) was tracked by the US Space Force’s Space Defense Squadron (SDS) 18 in a 491 x 502 kilometer orbit with an inclination angle of 35 degrees. It is similar to the first Yaogan-42 satellite launched on April 2, but has an angle range of 142 degrees.

Outside observers estimate that the Yaogan series satellites are intended for military and civilian purposes. Yaogan’s various satellite series are understood to include optical imaging satellites, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and electronic intelligence satellites (ELINT). This combination provides high-resolution images and all-weather, day and night images, as well as collection of electronic signals from radars, communications systems and other electronic devices covering both land and sea.

US worried about Chinese intelligence satellites

Recently, US officials have expressed concerns about China’s creation of reconnaissance satellites. Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch of the Space Systems Command Intelligence Directorate warned in January that Chinese reconnaissance spacecraft are providing the People’s Liberation Army with unprecedented eyes in space to monitor the activities of the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific and other hotspots.

Notable additions to the series include Yaogan-41 entering geosynchronous orbit in late 2023. This satellite was launched on March 5, Long, China’s largest operational rocket. A new extended cargo hatch measuring 18.5 meters long and 5.2 meters in diameter was used in the mission. Meanwhile, last August, China launched Ludi Tance-4, believed to be the world’s first SAR satellite in geosynchronous orbit.

“When combined with data from other Chinese surveillance satellites, Yaogan-41 could provide China with unprecedented capability to detect and track vehicle-sized objects in the Indo-Pacific region and threaten multiple U.S. and allied naval and air assets operating in the region.” Clayton Swope, a former U.S. intelligence official and now a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in January.

Saturday’s launch was China’s 17th orbital mission in 2024. The country plans to carry out approximately 100 launches in 2024. About 70 will be carried out by CASC, and Chinese commercial launch service providers are planning about 30 launches.

CASC will launch two major missions in the next few weeks. The Shenzhou-18 space mission to the Tiangong Space Station is scheduled to launch from Jiuquan in northwestern China on April 25. The first far-side lunar sample return mission, Chang’e-6, is scheduled for May 3 from Wenchang.