Space Debris Research Lab

GAOFEN 11 operational spacecraft overpass images

Ground-based optical observations of the orbital debris environment

Strange unstable behavior of GAOFEN 11 (COSPAR ID: 2018-063A, SATCAT: 43585) civilian remote sensing satellite. According to various sources it is operational, but it shows signs of tumbling as it is evident on overpass images on 15, 18 and 20 July 2025. near Novi Sad, Serbia. Acquired with full spectrum Nikon D7000.

The satellite, believed to be an optical imaging craft, is the latest in the Gaofen line of Chinese Earth observation missions. It is reported that the satellite can be used for land survey, urban planning, road network design, agriculture, and disaster relief. No other details about the Gaofen 11 satellite have been released by China. Source: NASA-NSSDCA Master Catalog. It was launched on 31 July 2018 from China's Taiyuan space center. Source: https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/gf-11.htm

NOTE: right click and open image in a new tab for a higher resolution

GAOFEN 11 (COSPAR ID: 2018-063A, SATCAT: 43585) with a brightness change in interval of maximum brightness-flare and minimum brightness-faint. Type of mission: civilian remote sensing. Satellite overpass on 15 July, 2025. Overpass direction from south to north. Images: original non-enhanced images. Full spectrum Nikon D7000 with 50mm lens. Exposure 25 seconds. Time: 10:11 PM CEST.

GAOFEN 11 (COSPAR ID: 2018-063A, SATCAT: 43585) with a brightness change in interval of maximum brightness-flare and minimum brightness-faint. Type of mission: civilian remote sensing. Satellite overpass on 18 July, 2025. Overpass direction from south to north. Elevation: ~47°. Images: original non-enhanced images. Full spectrum Nikon D7000 with 50mm lens. Exposure 20 seconds. Time: 9:43 PM CEST.

GAOFEN 11 (COSPAR ID: 2018-063A, SATCAT: 43585) with a brightness change in interval of maximum brightness-flare and minimum brightness-faint. Type of mission: civilian remote sensing. Satellite overpass on 20 July, 2025. Overpass direction from south to north. Elevation: ~71°. Images: original non-enhanced images. Full spectrum Nikon D7000 with 50mm lens. Exposure 20 seconds. Time: 9:54 PM CEST.

Google Sites

Report abuse