FENGYUN 1C
NORAD 25730
Payload
LEO
1999-025A
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🛰️ Orbital Parameters
Perigee
794 km
Apogee
812 km
Inclination
98.9°
Period
100.9 min
Mean Motion
14.26682587 rev/day
TLE Epoch
2026-03-17 13:00:00 UTC
📐 Computed Orbital Characteristics
Avg. Altitude803 km
Orbital Velocity26,834 km/h
Velocity7.45 km/s
Orbital Period101 minutes
Orbits / Day14.27
Eccentricity0.0013
Semi-Major Axis7,174 km
Orbit ClassSun-Synchronous (SSO)
Est. Orbital Lifetime~100–500 years
🚀 Launch & Identity
Country / Operator
🇨🇳 China
Launch Date
1999-05-10
Launch Site
Taiyuan, China
Int'l Designator
1999-025A
Object Type
Payload
RCS Size
Medium (0.1–1 m²)
📖 About This Object
FENGYUN 1C is an active satellite operated by China, launched on 1999-05-10 from Taiyuan, China. With over 27 years in orbit, it has far exceeded many satellites’ design lifetimes. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 794 km and 812 km with an inclination of 98.9°. It travels at approximately 26,834 km/h (7.45 km/s), completing one full orbit every 101 minutes — that’s roughly 14.27 orbits per day. Its near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit means it passes over any given point on Earth at approximately the same local solar time, ideal for consistent Earth observation lighting conditions. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~100–500 years. Orbital Radar tracks FENGYUN 1C in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.
🌍 Orbit Context
FENGYUN 1C operates in a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), a special subset of LEO where the orbital plane precesses to keep a constant angle relative to the Sun. This means the satellite crosses any given latitude at approximately the same local solar time on every pass, providing consistent lighting conditions — essential for Earth observation, weather monitoring and environmental science. SSO orbits typically sit between 600 and 800 km altitude with inclinations near 97–99°.
🔗 Fengyun-1C ASAT Debris
This debris object was created by China's kinetic-kill anti-satellite test on 11 January 2007, which destroyed the Fengyun-1C weather satellite at approximately 865 km altitude. The test generated over 3,500 trackable fragments — the worst debris event in spaceflight history — with debris expected to persist in orbit for decades to centuries due to the high altitude. About 2,800 fragments remain catalogued as of 2026.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
FENGYUN 1C is in a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), a specialised form of LEO at approximately 803 km altitude. Its 98.9° inclination causes the orbital plane to precess at exactly the rate of the Earth’s revolution around the Sun, so the satellite crosses each latitude at a consistent local solar time. It completes one orbit every 101 minutes, travelling at 26,834 km/h.
FENGYUN 1C is operated by China. It is catalogued by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network under NORAD ID 25730. You can track FENGYUN 1C in real time on Orbital Radar’s live tracker.
FENGYUN 1C was launched on 1999-05-10 from Taiyuan, China. At its current altitude, the estimated remaining orbital lifetime is: ~100–500 years.
Yes — Orbital Radar tracks FENGYUN 1C (NORAD ID 25730) using the latest TLE (two-line element set) data from Space-Track and CelesTrak. Open the live tracker to see its current position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated in real time.
FENGYUN 1C travels at approximately 26,834 km/h (16,674 mph) — roughly 7.45 km/s. It completes 14.27 orbits per day, meaning the crew or instruments aboard (if any) would experience approximately 29 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.