TJSW-9

Long March 3B lifted off from Xichang carrying TJSW-9 (Tongxin Jishu Shiyan-9), officially described as a communications technology test satellite bound for geostationary transfer orbit but widely believed to serve China's military signals-intelligence network.

Outcome

Success

Orbit

GTO

Geostationary transfer orbit

Payload to orbit

4 T (est.)

Flight

47th

of 78 Long March 3B/E flights

Date and time

29 December 2021, 16:43 UTC

Rocket

Long March 3B/E

Builder

CASC

Launch site

Launch Complex 2 (LC-2), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Payload

Government/Top Secret

International designator

2021-135

Launches in 2021

145th of 146

See it in orbit

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