{
  "id": "yaogan-jb8",
  "name": "Yaogan JB-8 naval surveillance triplets",
  "aliases": [
    "JB-8",
    "Yaogan 31"
  ],
  "domain": "space",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "Military ocean surveillance satellite constellation",
  "status": "in-service",
  "fielded": null,
  "operators": [
    "CHN"
  ],
  "summary": "Triplets of Chinese satellites flying in formation, launched from Jiuquan; the JB-8 series includes Yaogan 9, 16, 17, 20, 25 and 31.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "orbit_regime",
      "v": "LEO",
      "src": [
        "gsp-yaogan-9"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "sats_count",
      "v": 27,
      "src": [
        "gsp-yaogan-9"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "Yaogan 9, 16, 17, 20, 25 triplets and Yaogan 31A–31L, launched 2010–2021"
    },
    {
      "k": "first_launch",
      "v": 2010,
      "src": [
        "gsp-yaogan-9"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "on_orbit",
      "v": 27,
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Payloads with current element sets in the public catalog, active or not. Matched Yaogan-9, 16, 17, 20, 25 and 31 triplets."
    },
    {
      "k": "active_sats",
      "v": 27,
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "Count in the CelesTrak active satellites list, which estimates operational status."
    },
    {
      "k": "perigee_km",
      "v": [
        677,
        949
      ],
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08."
    },
    {
      "k": "apogee_km",
      "v": [
        1229,
        1499
      ],
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08."
    },
    {
      "k": "period_min",
      "v": 107,
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08."
    },
    {
      "k": "inclination_deg",
      "v": [
        63.35,
        63.41
      ],
      "src": [
        "celestrak-gp"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08."
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [],
  "art": "satellite",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-11-08",
      "change": "Entry created from cited open sources"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-11-08",
      "change": "Orbital elements from CelesTrak GP data (epoch about 2026-11-08): 27 catalogued, 27 active."
    }
  ],
  "satellites": [
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-9 01A",
      "norad": 36413,
      "cospar": "2010-009A",
      "perigee_km": 678,
      "apogee_km": 1498,
      "inclination_deg": 63.36,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2010-03-05"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-9 01B",
      "norad": 36414,
      "cospar": "2010-009B",
      "perigee_km": 677,
      "apogee_km": 1499,
      "inclination_deg": 63.37,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2010-03-05"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-9 01C",
      "norad": 36415,
      "cospar": "2010-009C",
      "perigee_km": 677,
      "apogee_km": 1499,
      "inclination_deg": 63.36,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2010-03-05"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-16 01A",
      "norad": 39011,
      "cospar": "2012-066A",
      "perigee_km": 755,
      "apogee_km": 1423,
      "inclination_deg": 63.35,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2012-11-25"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-16 01B",
      "norad": 39012,
      "cospar": "2012-066B",
      "perigee_km": 755,
      "apogee_km": 1423,
      "inclination_deg": 63.35,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2012-11-25"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-16 01C",
      "norad": 39013,
      "cospar": "2012-066C",
      "perigee_km": 755,
      "apogee_km": 1423,
      "inclination_deg": 63.35,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2012-11-25"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-17 01A",
      "norad": 39239,
      "cospar": "2013-046A",
      "perigee_km": 761,
      "apogee_km": 1417,
      "inclination_deg": 63.38,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2013-09-01"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-17 01B",
      "norad": 39240,
      "cospar": "2013-046B",
      "perigee_km": 761,
      "apogee_km": 1417,
      "inclination_deg": 63.38,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2013-09-01"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-17 01C",
      "norad": 39241,
      "cospar": "2013-046C",
      "perigee_km": 760,
      "apogee_km": 1417,
      "inclination_deg": 63.38,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2013-09-01"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-20 01A",
      "norad": 40109,
      "cospar": "2014-047A",
      "perigee_km": 788,
      "apogee_km": 1390,
      "inclination_deg": 63.38,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2014-08-09"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-20 01B",
      "norad": 40110,
      "cospar": "2014-047B",
      "perigee_km": 789,
      "apogee_km": 1390,
      "inclination_deg": 63.38,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2014-08-09"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-20 01C",
      "norad": 40111,
      "cospar": "2014-047C",
      "perigee_km": 788,
      "apogee_km": 1390,
      "inclination_deg": 63.38,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2014-08-09"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-25 01A",
      "norad": 40338,
      "cospar": "2014-080A",
      "perigee_km": 806,
      "apogee_km": 1372,
      "inclination_deg": 63.39,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2014-12-10"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-25 01B",
      "norad": 40339,
      "cospar": "2014-080B",
      "perigee_km": 806,
      "apogee_km": 1373,
      "inclination_deg": 63.39,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2014-12-10"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-25 01C",
      "norad": 40340,
      "cospar": "2014-080C",
      "perigee_km": 806,
      "apogee_km": 1373,
      "inclination_deg": 63.39,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2014-12-10"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-31 01A",
      "norad": 43275,
      "cospar": "2018-034A",
      "perigee_km": 874,
      "apogee_km": 1304,
      "inclination_deg": 63.39,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-04-10"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-31 01B",
      "norad": 43276,
      "cospar": "2018-034B",
      "perigee_km": 874,
      "apogee_km": 1304,
      "inclination_deg": 63.39,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-04-10"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-31 01C",
      "norad": 43277,
      "cospar": "2018-034C",
      "perigee_km": 874,
      "apogee_km": 1304,
      "inclination_deg": 63.39,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2018-04-10"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-31 02A",
      "norad": 47532,
      "cospar": "2021-007A",
      "perigee_km": 948,
      "apogee_km": 1230,
      "inclination_deg": 63.4,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2021-01-29"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-31 02B",
      "norad": 47533,
      "cospar": "2021-007B",
      "perigee_km": 948,
      "apogee_km": 1230,
      "inclination_deg": 63.4,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2021-01-29"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-31 02C",
      "norad": 47536,
      "cospar": "2021-007E",
      "perigee_km": 948,
      "apogee_km": 1230,
      "inclination_deg": 63.4,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2021-01-29"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-31 03A",
      "norad": 47691,
      "cospar": "2021-014A",
      "perigee_km": 947,
      "apogee_km": 1231,
      "inclination_deg": 63.4,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2021-02-24"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-31 03B",
      "norad": 47693,
      "cospar": "2021-014C",
      "perigee_km": 947,
      "apogee_km": 1231,
      "inclination_deg": 63.4,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2021-02-24"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-31 03C",
      "norad": 47695,
      "cospar": "2021-014E",
      "perigee_km": 947,
      "apogee_km": 1231,
      "inclination_deg": 63.4,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2021-02-24"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-31 04A",
      "norad": 47854,
      "cospar": "2021-020A",
      "perigee_km": 949,
      "apogee_km": 1229,
      "inclination_deg": 63.4,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2021-03-13"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-31 04B",
      "norad": 47856,
      "cospar": "2021-020C",
      "perigee_km": 949,
      "apogee_km": 1229,
      "inclination_deg": 63.4,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2021-03-13"
    },
    {
      "name": "YAOGAN-31 04C",
      "norad": 47857,
      "cospar": "2021-020D",
      "perigee_km": 949,
      "apogee_km": 1229,
      "inclination_deg": 63.41,
      "period_min": 107,
      "epoch": "2026-11-08",
      "active": true,
      "owner": "PRC",
      "launch": "2021-03-13"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/yaogan-jb8.html",
  "sources": {
    "gsp-yaogan-9": {
      "title": "Yaogan 9, 16, 17, 20, 25, 31 (JB-8)",
      "publisher": "Gunter's Space Page",
      "url": "https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/yaogan-9.htm",
      "published": null,
      "tier": 3,
      "checked": "2026-11-08"
    },
    "celestrak-gp": {
      "title": "NORAD GP element sets (current data)",
      "publisher": "CelesTrak (data from the U.S. Space Force 18th/19th Space Defense Squadron catalog)",
      "url": "https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/",
      "published": "2026-11-08",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-11-08"
    }
  }
}