Kuaizhou 1A | Traffic VDES A & B
Kuaizhou 1A launched the Traffic VDES A & B mission for ExPace from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China on Dec 5, 2025 (UTC).
Launch pad
Launch Area 95A · Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Kuaizhou 1A | Traffic VDES A & B
Launched Dec 5, 2025 6:00:00 PMSuccess
2 objects in orbit now
Flight direction
167° SSE
measured from the launched orbit · inclination 80.4°
Flight path
First-stage drop zone (rough estimate)
Drawn 400–700 km downrange along the flight direction. Official hazard areas are published as NOTAMs and navigational warnings.
About the mission
Two technology demonstration satellites for satellite transmissions of signals for the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES), a successor to the current Automatic Identification System (AIS) on ships and maritime vessels for traffic management at sea with higher bandwidth on new frequencies for secure communications and e-navigation. This project is a joint effort by the China Ministry of Transport's China Transport Telecommunications Information Center and SpaceSail, operator of the Qianfan/G60 constellation.
Mission description from Launch Library 2.
Objects from this launch still in orbit
- Launch time (your time zone)
- Fri, Dec 5 · 6:00:00 PM
- Status
- Success
- Launch provider
- ExPace
- Rocket
- Kuaizhou 1A
- Mission type
- Technology
- Target orbit
- LEO
- Launch pad
- Launch Area 95A · Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China