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SpaceChina

Tianlian data relay satellites

Data relay satellite constellationIn servicePending verification
SpaceCHN
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Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeData relay satellite constellation
ProliferationOrigin country only
Satellites6Tianlian-2 01–06 (2019–2026); five Tianlian-1 launched 2008–2021Med[1]
First launch2008Med[2]
Orbit
Orbit regimeGEOMed[1]
Catalogued on orbit12Payloads with current element sets in the public catalog, active or not.High[3]
Active (CelesTrak)9Count in the CelesTrak active satellites list, which estimates operational status.Med[3]
Perigee35,588–35,782 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High[3]
Apogee35,791–35,986 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High[3]
Orbital period1,436.1–1,436.2 minActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High[3]
Inclination0.1–4.09 °Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High[3]
Catalogued satellites · 12[3]
NameNORADCOSPARPerigee kmApogee kmIncl. °Period minStatus
TIANLIAN 1-01327792008-019A36,56236,65210.51478.2Inactive
TIANLIAN 1-02377372011-032A36,11836,1765.911454.5Inactive
TIANLIAN 1-03387302012-040A36,09236,2476.191455.7Inactive
TIANLIAN 1-04418692016-072A35,58835,9861.231436.1Active
TIANLIAN 2-01440762019-017A35,76935,8040.911436.1Active
TIANLIAN 1-05490112021-063A35,76535,8081.961436.1Active
TIANLIAN 2-02500052021-124A35,76535,8081.171436.1Active
TIANLIAN 2-03531002022-078A35,77435,8001.031436.1Active
TIANLIAN 2-04633612025-062A35,63935,9344.011436.1Active
TIANLIAN 2-05636622025-084A35,78235,7914.091436.1Active
TIANLIAN 2-061001402026-169A35,76235,8142.791436.2Active
TIANLIAN 3-011001722026-172A35,77535,7960.11436.1Active

Mean elements at epoch 2026-11-08 or later. Perigee and apogee are computed from mean motion and eccentricity and are approximate. Status follows the CelesTrak active list.

Summary

Chinese geostationary tracking and data relay satellites supporting crewed and military spacecraft.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
China
Sources
  1. Tianlian-2 01–06, Gunter's Space Page
    Tier 3 · checked 2026-11-08
  2. Tianlian-1 01–05, Gunter's Space Page
    Tier 3 · checked 2026-11-08
  3. NORAD GP element sets (current data), CelesTrak (data from the U.S. Space Force 18th/19th Space Defense Squadron catalog)
    Published/updated 2026-11-08 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-11-08
Change log
  • 2026-11-08 Entry created from cited open sources
  • 2026-11-08 Orbital elements from CelesTrak GP data (epoch about 2026-11-08): 12 catalogued, 9 active.