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China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLong March 5101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

TJSW-20

Launched

October 23, 2025 · 14:30 UTC

Launch Successful
CZ-5 TJSW-20

Image: CASC

Summary

TJSW-20 launched on a China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 5 from 101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China on October 23, 2025 at 14:30 UTC. The launch window ran from 14:22 to 15:40 UTC. It was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 549th launch, 48th this year and humanity's 7,093rd orbital launch attempt. It was the 7th Long March 5 flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). Tongxin Jishu Shiyan 20, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 196 × 45,777 km orbit inclined 16.4°. 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.

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Vehicle
Long March 5 · China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Government/Top Secret · Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)
Milestone
7th Long March 5 flight · 1st this yearChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 549th launch48th this yearhumanity's 7,093rd orbital launch attempt244th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

16.4°Inclination
196 × 45777 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
834.3 minPeriodfrom mean elements
273.4°Ascending node
358 d agoElement epoch2025-10-23 10:39 UTC · stale

Tongxin Jishu Shiyan 20 · NORAD 66142 · 2025-238 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TJS-20
Object ID
2025-238A
Epoch
2025-10-23 10:39:07 UTC
Mean motion
1.72591881 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.7763081
Inclination
16.4304°
Ascending node
273.3573°
Arg. of perigee
165.0169°
Mean anomaly
249.5065°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
1
B*
0.00092731

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: GTO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Catalogued objects

2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage; 1 still in orbit

  • Tongxin Jishu Shiyan 20 · NORAD 66142 · in orbit

CZ-5 Y9 Stage 2 · re-entered June 9, 2026

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

Chinese classified satellite claimed to be for communication technology test purposes. Actual mission not known.

Pad

Map of 101

101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

16th launch from 101, 3rd this year · 47th from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Local pad time at liftoff: Oct 23, 10:30 PM GMT+8, at night

18 launches from this pad · 75 from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

71 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of ChinaOpen in maps

Updates

Launch success.

Cosmic_Penguin · Oct 23, 2025 · source

Show 2 earlier updates

  • Liftoff.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 10/23/2025 · source

  • Added launch per NOTAMs; Payload identity highly uncertain.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 10/20/2025 · source

Questions

When did TJSW-20 launch?

TJSW-20 launched on October 23, 2025 at 14:30 UTC. The launch window ran from 14:22 to 15:40 UTC.

Where can I watch TJSW-20?

Coverage: Long March-5 launches TJSW-20; Live: Long March 5 Flight 9 Launch (No Commentary). Watch the replay

What rocket launched TJSW-20?

Long March 5, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Long March 5 spec sheet

Where did TJSW-20 launch from?

101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China. Liftoff was Oct 23, 10:30 PM GMT+8 local time at the pad.

What orbit did TJSW-20 reach?

Tongxin Jishu Shiyan 20, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 196 × 45,777 km orbit inclined 16.4°.

How many satellites did TJSW-20 launch?

1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).