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

TJSW-23

Launched

December 20, 2025 · 12:30 UTC

Launch Successful
CZ-5 TSJW-23

Image: CASC

Summary

TJSW-23 launched on a China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 5 from 101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China on December 20, 2025 at 12:30 UTC. The launch window ran from 12:22 to 13:40 UTC. It was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 565th launch, 64th this year and humanity's 7,162nd orbital launch attempt. It was the 8th Long March 5 flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). Tongxin Jishu Shiyan 23, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 223 × 45,729 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
8th Long March 5 flight · 2nd this yearChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 565th launch64th this yearhumanity's 7,162nd orbital launch attempt313th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

16.4°Inclination
223 × 45729 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
833.9 minPeriodfrom mean elements
299.0°Ascending node
299 d agoElement epoch2025-12-20 20:00 UTC · stale

Tongxin Jishu Shiyan 23 · NORAD 67226 · 2025-306 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID
2025-306A
Epoch
2025-12-20 20:00:32 UTC
Mean motion
1.72688224 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.7753158
Inclination
16.3879°
Ascending node
299.0313°
Arg. of perigee
179.5576°
Mean anomaly
182.5654°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
2
B*
0.00064865

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; 2 still in orbit

  • Tongxin Jishu Shiyan 23 · NORAD 67226 · in orbit

CZ-5 Y10 Stage 2 · in orbit

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

17th launch from 101, 4th this year · 53rd from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Local pad time at liftoff: Dec 20, 8:30 PM GMT+8, at night

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

57 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 · Dec 20, 2025 · source

Show 3 earlier updates

  • Liftoff.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/20/2025 · source

  • Refined launch window per new NOTAMs.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/18/2025 · source

  • Added launch per NOTAMs; Payload identity highly uncertain.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/15/2025 · source

Questions

When did TJSW-23 launch?

TJSW-23 launched on December 20, 2025 at 12:30 UTC. The launch window ran from 12:22 to 13:40 UTC.

Where can I watch TJSW-23?

Coverage: Long March-5 launches TJSW-23. Watch the replay

What rocket launched TJSW-23?

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

Where did TJSW-23 launch from?

101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China. Liftoff was Dec 20, 8:30 PM GMT+8 local time at the pad.

What orbit did TJSW-23 reach?

Tongxin Jishu Shiyan 23, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 223 × 45,729 km orbit inclined 16.4°.

How many satellites did TJSW-23 launch?

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