At 1944 GMT on Christmas Day (25 December 2017) China launched three Yaogan 30 spacecraft (Yaogan 30-03-A, B and C) to a 600 km low Earth orbit inclined at 35 degrees relative to the equator. The launch which used a Long March 2C rocket took place from Xiching – a launch site more associated with geosynchronous launches. Officially for electromagnetic measurements, nevertheless most observers believe that the triplets of Yaogan 30 spacecraft launched – this is the third such launch this year – to be either signals intelligences SIGINT satellites on a naval surveillance mission similar to the US NOSS concept.

Long March 2C (CZ-2C) rocket lifts off on Christmas Day 2017. Courtesy: With permission of Xinhua