Shijian 31

Overview

Destination: Elliptical Orbit
Mission: Government/Top Secret

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

Classified experimental Chinese satellite of unknown purposes (officially described for "spatial environment detection" purposes).

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • June 16, 2026, 11:23 a.m.

Launch success.


Cosmic_Penguin • June 8, 2026, 11:09 a.m.

Refined launch window per new NOTAMs.


Cosmic_Penguin • June 4, 2026, 1:14 p.m.

Added launch per NOTAMs; Payload and launch vehicle identities uncertain.


Long March 3B/E

Family:
Configuration: B/E

The Long March 3B / E (G2) (CZ-3B / E) is one of the most successful medium-range launchers and the strongest variant of the CZ-3 series. It was specially developed for the transport of heavy communications satellites into a geostationary transfer orbit. The additional designation "E" stands for a higher payload fairing, stretched boosters and extended fuel tanks at the first stage, over the CZ-3B.

Specifications
  • Stages
    3
  • Length
    56.3 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    4.2 m
  • Launch Mass
    456.0 T
  • Thrust
    5924.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Long March 3B/E
  • Family
  • Variant
    B/E
  • Alias
    CZ-3B/E
  • Full Name
    Long March 3B/E
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $70000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    12000.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    5500.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

(CASC)

Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei Founded: 1999 Successes: 595 Failures: 16 Pending: 6

Agency Type:

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.

INFO WIKI
SpaceNews

China’s Shijian-31 satellite is sweeping GEO using a unique orbit

HELSINKI — A classified satellite launched by China in June is operating in a creative orbit, giving it a unique vantage point over the geostationary belt. Shijian-31 launched on a […] The post China’s Shijian-31 satellite is sweeping GEO…

NASASpaceflight

Launch Preview: 10 launches scheduled from sites across the world

A very busy launch manifest is expected in the upcoming week, with 10 launches scheduled… The post Launch Preview: 10 launches scheduled from sites across the world appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

SpaceNews

China conducts 4 launches in 3 days, but silence follows Kuaizhou–11 launch

China continued its accelerated launch pace with a series of missions, but long silence followed liftoff of a Kuaizhou-11 solid rocket Wednesday, suggesting potential issues. The post China conducts 4 launches in 3 days, but silence follo…

Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Launch Complex 2 (LC-2)


Falcon 9
Success
7 hours, 28 minutes ago
Starlink Group 17-50
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Zhuque-3
Success
11 hours, 54 minutes ago
Honghu-03
Launch Area 96B - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Note: Second test launch of LandSpace’s ZQ-3 rocket and first ever successful orbital launch vehicle booster recovery by a Chinese private launch ser…


Long March 2C
Success
2 days, 8 hours ago
Satellite for Earth Observation (SEO)
Launch Complex 9 - Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Satellite for Earth Observation (SEO) is an Earth observation satellite project of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the National Space Science and T…


Long March 12
Success
3 days, 7 hours ago
SatNet LEO Group 24
Commercial LC-2 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

A batch of 9 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites for the Chinese state owned SatNet constellation operated by the China Satellite Network Group.…


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 9 hours ago
USSF-366
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

USSF-366 is a classified mission for the United States Space Force. It is possibly a batch of classified LEO satellites for a US government entity ba…


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 10 hours ago
Globalstar 2-R Mission 1 (x 8)
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

The Globalstar global mobile communications network offers global, digital real time voice, data and fax services via its Low Earth Orbit satellite c…


Falcon 9
Success
1 week ago
Starlink Group 17-49
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week ago
Starlink Group 10-19
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


H3-22
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
Michibiki 7 (QZS-7)
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2 - Tanegashima Space Center, Japan

QZSS (Quasi Zenith Satellite System) is a Japanese satellite navigation system operating from inclined, elliptical geosynchronous orbits to achieve o…


Long March 7A
Failure
1 week, 1 day ago
ChinaSat 4B
201 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Chinese communication geostationary satellite for unknown purposes.