Helsinki-China on Saturday launched the new TJS-16 classified satellite aboard rocket rocket, with an opaque series of experimental missions.
A long March 7A rocket at 12:05 pm Eastern (1605 UTC) was removed from the Venchang Satellite Launch Center on Henan’s island province on 29 March. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced success about an hour after the lift, the payload was manifested as communication technology experiment satellite -16, or Tongxin Zishu Xiyan -16 (TJS -16).
CASC has used the TJS-16 satellite mainly to verify multi-band and high-speed satellite communication technology. It published neither images nor technical details of satellite after patterns for all previous TJ launch.
The satellite was developed by a major hand of the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), CASC. SAST repeated the teres details of TJS-16 and included a mission patch with its statement.
The TJS series is mainly operated in the geostationary class (GEO). It is seen as a potentially classified missions by Western analysts, including signal intelligence, early warning missions and satellite inspection activities to support the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). There are now 15 main TJS satellites in the classes in China, with no clear TJS-8 satellites.
Mysterious partner of TJS-15
The launch of TJS -16 follows the launch of TJS -15 from Southwest China on March 3 on March 9, on a long March 3B rocket, a mission gave a similar, brief description in terms of its objectives.
TJS-15 has reached the geostationary belt since then. The US Space Force Space Domain Awareness has also listed an AKM, or apogee kick motor, which is linked to the launch, a motor that is usually used for the final impulse, which is necessary to include a satellite into a live orbit.
This object now appears to be a orbit a few hundred kilometers above the Jio belt, as is specific to AKM. However, orbital data suggests that AKM has created a range of small changes in its class, suggesting low-threste propulsion capabilities. The mission could resonate an earlier TJ mission.
The TJS-3 mission launched in 2018 also had a clear AKM. However, the object later performed maneuvers, often synchronized with the main satellite, showing inconsistent behavior with an AKM, often one of some major irritation. The mission had intelligence implications and shook the important analyst interest.
On March 7
Saturday’s launch was a long flight of March 7. The 7A variant is a three-phase version of the standard long March 7 that is used to launch the cargo mission for the Tiangong Space Station in a low Earth’s orbit.
7A is a 60.1 meter-Lamba, 3.35-meter-cerce kerosene and liquid oxygen launch vehicle with four side boosters. Its first phase and booster are powered by the YF-100 engine. Launcher is capable of transporting GTO to 7 MT of payload. It has a 4.2 meter fairing diameter.
The first launch, in 2020, ended in failure. The launcher has been seen as a long -term replacement for the Launch to the Geo for the launch of Workers, Hypergon Long March 3B. However, the rocket has so far launched more than twice a calendar year.
The TJS -16 Mission was China’s 16th orbital launch of 2025. It follows the launch of Tianlian -2 (04) Data Relay Satellite March 26. China can target 100 or more launching in 2025, inspired by increasing commercial activity, megaconstals projects and new launcher development. Many new, medium-lifts and potentially re-purpose rockets are targeting the first flights this year.
