BY:SpaceEyeNews.
Introduction
China launches mysterious satellite Yaogan-45—and the world of spaceflight is buzzing with questions. The satellite’s official description speaks of land surveys, disaster monitoring, and scientific experiments. Yet experts highlight its unusual placement in medium Earth orbit, a rare choice that hints at new capabilities. On the very same day, automaker Geely expanded its Geesatcom constellation with 11 more satellites. Together, these launches reveal much about how China is reshaping orbital technology for both wide-area monitoring and everyday connectivity.
Yaogan-45 and Its Unexpected Orbit
When China launched the mysterious satellite Yaogan-45, analysts immediately noticed something unusual. Unlike most of the Yaogan family, which typically occupy low Earth or sun-synchronous orbits, Yaogan-45 was placed into medium Earth orbit (MEO). This region, between 2,000 and 36,000 kilometers above Earth, is better known for navigation satellites such as GPS and BeiDou. The choice of this orbit makes Yaogan-45 stand out as one of the most intriguing missions of 2025.
The launch vehicle was also significant. Yaogan-45 rode aboard a Long March 7A rocket, lifting off from Wenchang on Hainan Island. Engineers made key upgrades to the rocket for this mission, including expanding the core-stage tank structure and enabling multiple engine restarts. These changes increased its payload capacity from 7,000 kilograms to more than 8,000 kilograms for medium-orbit missions. In orbital mechanics, this extra capacity opens the door to heavier, more complex satellites.
What makes Yaogan-45 even more noteworthy is its size. Observers compare it to Yaogan-41, launched in late 2023 on a Long March 5 rocket, which was also unusually large and sent into higher orbit. The pattern suggests that China is developing a new class of satellites designed for longer-lasting missions and broader coverage. Medium orbit allows satellites to view larger portions of Earth with each pass, reducing the number of satellites needed for continuous coverage. While lower orbits offer sharper imagery, medium orbits provide endurance and efficiency.
The fact that China launched the mysterious satellite Yaogan-45 into MEO signals a potential shift in strategy. Instead of simply multiplying low Earth satellites, the focus appears to be on creating a layered orbital network where each altitude plays a different role. It’s a subtle but transformative move that could redefine how Earth observation and monitoring are carried out.
Geely Expands the Geesatcom Constellation
While Yaogan-45 grabbed headlines for its orbit, the other launch of the day was just as important. Off the coast of Rizhao City in Shandong province, a Jielong-3 (Smart Dragon-3) solid rocket lifted off from a maritime platform. Its payload: 11 new satellites for Geely’s Geesatcom constellation.
With this addition, Geely’s constellation now consists of 52 operational satellites, with a goal of reaching 64 before the end of 2025. The satellites are designed to deliver centimeter-level positioning accuracy, a breakthrough for applications like autonomous driving. For comparison, most consumer GPS devices have accuracy within a few meters, so this improvement could revolutionize navigation.
What sets Geesatcom apart is its focus on integrating Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity with navigation. The satellites can communicate with each other through inter-satellite links, reducing reliance on ground stations. This means faster, more reliable data for industries such as shipping, agriculture, and marine monitoring. Geespace, Geely’s space division, has positioned the network as an enabler for smart cities, intelligent transportation, and environmental services.
The reach of Geesatcom is also global. Geely has already partnered with companies in over 20 countries, including Oman, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Malaysia, and Argentina. These partnerships suggest that the constellation is more than a domestic project—it’s an international commercial service. For regions where terrestrial infrastructure can be expensive or slow to deploy, satellite networks like Geesatcom offer an alternative that is cost-effective and scalable.
By launching satellites through sea-based platforms, Geely demonstrates flexibility and innovation in orbital deployment. Sea launches allow rockets to be launched closer to the equator, where Earth’s rotation provides an extra velocity boost. This results in greater efficiency and payload capacity. For a commercial company, this efficiency translates into lower costs and faster growth.
The story here is more than just numbers. A car manufacturer stepping into the satellite business represents a new way of thinking about mobility. Cars of the future won’t just rely on roads—they’ll rely on data streams from space. By controlling both the automotive and satellite sides, Geely is creating a vertically integrated ecosystem.
A Bigger Picture in Orbit
When we view both launches together, a larger pattern emerges. By placing Yaogan-45 in medium orbit and expanding Geesatcom in low orbit, China is weaving a layered orbital infrastructure. Each layer serves different functions, but together they create a robust system capable of wide-area monitoring, precision navigation, and industry-level connectivity.
The Long March 7A’s successful adaptation for medium orbit highlights the growing flexibility of China’s launch vehicles. Instead of being limited to specific mission types, rockets are being modified to cover a broader range of payloads and orbits. This flexibility will be essential as missions become more complex and diverse.
Meanwhile, Geesatcom’s steady expansion shows how commercial ventures are complementing national space projects. Where once satellites were primarily government tools, they are now becoming integrated into daily life. From agriculture to transportation, the services provided by Geely’s constellation reflect the increasing importance of space as critical infrastructure.
The pace of launches adds another layer to the story. By early September 2025, China had already carried out 53rd and 54th orbital missions of the year, putting the country on track to surpass its 2024 record of 68 launches. With only one failed attempt this year from a commercial provider, the consistency highlights how organized and mature the space sector has become.
Looking forward, observers anticipate a static fire test of the Long March 10 rocket, designed for future crewed and lunar missions. If successful, it would demonstrate that China’s space strategy covers every domain: near-Earth monitoring, global commercial services, and deep-space exploration.
Conclusion
In less than 24 hours, China showcased both sides of its space ambitions. By launching the mysterious Yaogan-45 satellite into unexpected orbit and expanding Geely’s constellation to 52 satellites, the nation demonstrated progress in both state-driven innovation and private-sector agility. These moves highlight a vision where space is no longer distant—it’s part of the infrastructure that shapes industries, cities, and mobility.
As China launches mysterious satellite Yaogan-45 and continues to grow Geesatcom, one message is clear: the future of space isn’t just about reaching further—it’s about weaving orbital technology into everyday life on Earth.
Reference:
https://spacenews.com/china-launches-mystery-yaogan-45-spysat-expands-geesatcom-constellation/