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: 594 Failures: 16 Pending: 7

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)


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Success
4 days, 2 hours ago
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4 days, 15 hours ago
Starlink Group 10-19
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

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H3-22
Success
5 days, 11 hours ago
Michibiki 7 (QZS-7)
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2 - Tanegashima Space Center, Japan

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Long March 7A
Failure
5 days, 19 hours ago
ChinaSat 4B
201 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Chinese communication geostationary satellite for unknown purposes.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week ago
Starlink Group 17-38
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.


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Success
1 week, 2 days ago
The Grain Goddess Provides (iQPS Launch 7)
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A - Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

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Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 3 days ago
BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8)
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

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Smart Dragon 3
Success
1 week, 4 days ago
OSE HS-01 & 02
Haiyang offshore launch location - Haiyang Oriental Spaceport

2 hyper-spectral Earth observation satellites from Chinese company STAR.VISION. Both satellites are built in corporation with foreign customers: *…


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 4 days ago
Starlink Group 17-53
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.


Long March 8A
Success
1 week, 4 days ago
SatNet LEO Group 23
Commercial LC-1 - 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.…