# Gaofen-1 3D model

> Shape built from published dimensions and pictures; details simplified.

Free 3D model of Gaofen-1, a satellite, built from published dimensions by Space Radar. 9,120 triangles, 86 kB glTF, MIT.

- **Class:** Satellites
- **Mission:** Earth observation
- **Triangles:** 9,120
- **File:** gaofen-1.glb, 86 kB, glTF 2.0 binary (meshopt)
- **Look:** Physically based
- **Size:** 7.9 m across
- **Made:** Built from dimensions
- **Added:** 2026-10-27
- **NORAD:** 39150, 43259, 43260, 43262
- **Download:** https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Sara-Managed-Projects/space-radar/main/site/models/gaofen-1.glb
- **Mirror:** https://git.sara-agent.org/sara-projects/space-radar/raw/branch/main/site/models/gaofen-1.glb
- **Viewer:** https://www.spaceradar.ai/model/?id=gaofen-1
- **On the live map:** https://www.spaceradar.ai/#at=sat-39150
- **Licence:** MIT (https://github.com/Sara-Managed-Projects/space-radar/blob/main/LICENSE)
- **Credit:** Gaofen-1 3D model by Space Radar (spaceradar.ai), MIT License

Canonical: https://models.spaceradar.ai/gaofen-1/

## How it was made

Built in code from published dimensions and photographs, with no image-to-3D generator and no one else’s mesh. 3D model: built by Space Radar from eoPortal's published dimensions; compared with the operator's pictures, looked at only.

built by this project in code (release 1.3.0's part library, lib.py and parts.py, kept with the stage's notes in ~/space-radar-handoff/release-1.4/r14-m5/build, one script a craft), from the cited dimensions and the pictures under `references`; no image-to-3D model was used, and no published mesh: NASA's 3D Resources (1 583 paths, read 2026-10-27) has none of this craft, and no operator of it was found to publish a model under a free licence (searched 2026-10-27)

## Dimensions

- Span: 7.93 m
- Envelope diameter: 2.65 m
- Envelope height: 2 m
- Panel: 1.11 × 0.85 m
- Mass: 1080 kg

Source: eoPortal, https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/gaofen-1, OPENED 2026-10-27: 'a pair of solar panel wings, each with three solar panels', 'Launch mass 1080 kg', 'CAST-2000 (extended version)', 'two 2 m barrel-mounted panchromatic/8 m MS cameras, and a set of 4 WFIs'; no size is given there. SECOND SOURCE, NOT THE AGENCY: a Chinese data vendor's parameter page, https://www.glstkj.com/wzz.asp?x=36, OPENED 2026-10-27: '发射状态大包络 Φ2650mm×2000mm' (launch envelope 2.65 m by 2.0 m), '在轨太阳翼展开后的跨度 7930mm' (span of the wings deployed 7.93 m), '太阳翼基板总面积 5.661m2（1110mm×850mm×6块）' (six panels of 1110 x 850 mm), '总重量 1060kg' (it says 1 060 kg where eoPortal says 1 080: neither is drawn). HOW THE SPAN WAS REACHED: the 0.85 m side of a panel lies along the wing and the 1.11 m side across it; three panels with two 0.02 m gaps make 2.59 m; a body 1.70 m across and two yokes of 0.525 m give 1.70 + 2 x (0.525 + 2.59) = 7.93 m (the other way round leaves 1.27 m for body and yokes, too narrow for two 2 m-class barrels). OURS: the body 1.70 x 1.50 x 1.25 m (its diagonal 2.27 m fits the 2.65 m circle), the adapter cone, the overall 2.0 m height, the barrels' size and 6 degree tilt, every antenna, sensor and fitting, the cell counts

## References

- [Artist's view of the deployed GF-1 spacecraft (eoPortal figure 1)](https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/gaofen-1), CAST, DFH (looked at only; not free)
- [Photo of the Gaofen-1 spacecraft during AIT (eoPortal figure 3)](https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/gaofen-1), CAST, DFH (looked at only; not free)