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China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLong March 3B/ELaunch Complex 2 (LC-2), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Shijian 31
Launched
June 16, 2026 · 09:45 UTC
Image: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Summary
Shijian 31 launched on a China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 3B/E from Launch Complex 2 (LC-2), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China on June 16, 2026 at 09:45 UTC. The launch window ran from 09:37 to 10:23 UTC. It was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 598th launch, 28th this year and humanity's 7,314th orbital launch attempt. It was the 77th Long March 3B/E flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical). Shi Jian 31, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 186 × 35,828 km orbit inclined 63.5°. 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical)
- Milestone
- 77th Long March 3B/E flight · 2nd this yearChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 598th launch28th this yearhumanity's 7,314th orbital launch attempt141st orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Shi Jian 31 · NORAD 69570 · 2026-136 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- SJ-31
- Object ID
- 2026-136A
- Epoch
- 2026-06-16 20:21:12 UTC
- Mean motion
- 2.28095748 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.7310406
- Inclination
- 63.4649°
- Ascending node
- 356.181°
- Arg. of perigee
- 171.7246°
- Mean anomaly
- 356.204°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 5
- B*
- 0.00028088
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: Elliptical. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage; 1 still in orbit
- Shi Jian 31 · NORAD 69570 · in orbit
CZ-3B Y116 Stage 3 · re-entered September 27, 2026
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
Classified experimental Chinese satellite of unknown purposes (officially described for "spatial environment detection" purposes).
News
China’s Shijian-31 satellite is sweeping GEO using a unique orbitHELSINKI — 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 […]
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China conducts 4 launches in 3 days, but silence follows Kuaizhou–11 launchChina 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.
Pad
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
125th launch from Launch Complex 2 (LC-2), 2nd this year · 241st from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Local pad time at liftoff: Jun 16, 5:45 PM GMT+8, in daylight
126 launches from this pad · 242 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
150 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of ChinaOpen in maps
Updates
Questions
When did Shijian 31 launch?
Shijian 31 launched on June 16, 2026 at 09:45 UTC. The launch window ran from 09:37 to 10:23 UTC.
Where can I watch Shijian 31?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Shijian 31?
Long March 3B/E, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Long March 3B/E spec sheet
Where did Shijian 31 launch from?
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China. Liftoff was Jun 16, 5:45 PM GMT+8 local time at the pad.
What orbit did Shijian 31 reach?
Shi Jian 31, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 186 × 35,828 km orbit inclined 63.5°.
How many satellites did Shijian 31 launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).