Watch the Launch

Watch the Launch

Tianlian 2-06

Overview

Destination: Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Mission: Communications

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

Tianlian is a Chinese data tracking and relay communications geostationary satellite series. The TL 2 (Tian Lian 2) satellites represent the second generation of this relay satellite network, and is based on the DFH-4 Bus, a three-axis-stabilized telecommunications satellite platform. TL 2 will be used to support real-time communications between orbiting satellites and ground control stations. This system will replace the current network of ground-based space tracking and telemetry stations and space tracking ships.

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • July 23, 2026, 12:58 p.m.

Launch success.


Cosmic_Penguin • July 23, 2026, 12:03 p.m.

Liftoff.


Cosmic_Penguin • July 17, 2026, 4:40 a.m.

Refined launch window per new NOTAMs.


Cosmic_Penguin • July 3, 2026, 1:13 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: 597 Failures: 16 Pending: 10

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

Lightning strikes Long March 3B after liftoff, Kinetica-1 launches 5 satellites

HELSINKI — China conducted a pair of launches Thursday, including a Long March 3B rocket which delivered its payload to orbit despite a lightning strike. The Long March 3B rocket […] The post Lightning strikes Long March 3B after liftoff,…

NASASpaceflight

Launch Preview: Falcon 9, Starship, and Chinese rockets scheduled to launch

After last week’s aborted Starship Flight 13 launch, SpaceX is scheduling a new attempt as… The post Launch Preview: Falcon 9, Starship, and Chinese rockets scheduled to launch appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Launch Complex 2 (LC-2)


Long March 12
In Flight
35 minutes ago
Unknown Payload
Commercial LC-2 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Payload identity uncertain, probably with a batch of SatNet LEO communication satellites.


Soyuz 2.1b
Success
11 hours, 33 minutes ago
Progress MS-35 (96P)
31/6 - Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan

Progress resupply mission to the International Space Station.


Gravity-1
Success
1 day, 3 hours ago
SpaceSail Polar Group #16
Yellow Sea (launch location 5) - Haiyang Oriental Spaceport

9 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites with Ku, Q and V band payloads for the G60 constellation operated by Shanghai Spacesail Technologies with …


Zhuque-2E Block 2
Success
1 day, 18 hours ago
SpaceSail Polar Group #15
Launch Area 96A - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

10 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites with Ku, Q and V band payloads for the G60 constellation operated by Shanghai Spacesail Technologies with…


Vega-C
Success
1 day, 23 hours ago
Sentinel-3C & FLEX
Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV) - Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Sentinel-3C is the third satellite in the Sentinel-3 constellation, which provides high-accuracy optical, radar and altimetry data for marine and lan…


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 6 hours ago
O3b mPower 11-13
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

3 high-throughput communications satellites in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) built by Boeing and operated by SES.


Electron
Success
5 days, 21 hours ago
Happily Ever Faster (BlackSky Gen-3 5)
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A - Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Note: Payload and customer identities were not publicly announced. 5th of the BlackSky Gen-3 high resolution Earth-imaging satellites.


Falcon 9
Success
6 days, 9 hours ago
USSF-153
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

USSF-153 is a classified mission for the United States Space Force. It is possibly a batch of classified LEO satellites based on SpaceX’s Starshield …


Long March 4B
Success
6 days, 16 hours ago
Yaogan 53-01 to 03/56-01 to 03
Launch Area 94 (SLS-2 / 603) - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

6 Chinese military “remote sensing” satellite of unknown purposes.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 3 days ago
Starlink Group 15-24
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.