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China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLong March 2CLaunch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
XJS-A & XJS-B
Launched
June 27, 2018
Summary
XJS-A & XJS-B launched on a China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2C from Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China on June 27, 2018. It was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 225th launch, 18th this year and humanity's 5,760th orbital launch attempt. It was the 35th Long March 2C flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Xin jishu shiyan A xing, one of 4 catalogued objects, reached a 472 × 491 km orbit inclined 35.0°. 4 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.
- Watch
- China Launches New-Tech Experiment Twin SatellitesCCTV Video News Agency
- China launches new-tech experiment twin satellitesCGTN
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 35th Long March 2C flight · 2nd this yearChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 225th launch18th this yearhumanity's 5,760th orbital launch attempt54th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Xin jishu shiyan A xing · NORAD 43518 · 2018-054 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 4 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 2018-054A
- Epoch
- 2018-06-27 09:36:30 UTC
- Mean motion
- 15.30527283 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0013583
- Inclination
- 34.9901°
- Ascending node
- 301.1175°
- Arg. of perigee
- 260.3168°
- Mean anomaly
- 169.7056°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 4
- B*
- 0
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
4 catalogued: 2 payloads, 1 rocket stage, 1 component; none still in orbit
- Xin jishu shiyan A xing · NORAD 43518 · re-entered July 18, 2025
- Xin jishu shiyan B xing · NORAD 43519 · re-entered November 12, 2024
CZ-2C Y44 Stage 2 · re-entered February 28, 2026
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
A pair of experimental satellites to conduct tests of intersatellite communication links and trial new Earth observation technology.
Pad
Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
45th launch from Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), 5th this year · 116th from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
108 launches from this pad · 242 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
21 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of ChinaOpen in maps
Questions
When did XJS-A & XJS-B launch?
XJS-A & XJS-B launched on June 27, 2018. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch XJS-A & XJS-B?
Coverage: China Launches New-Tech Experiment Twin Satellites; China launches new-tech experiment twin satellites. Watch the replay
What rocket launched XJS-A & XJS-B?
Long March 2C, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Long March 2C spec sheet
Where did XJS-A & XJS-B launch from?
Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China.
What orbit did XJS-A & XJS-B reach?
Xin jishu shiyan A xing, one of 4 catalogued objects, reached a 472 × 491 km orbit inclined 35.0°.
How many satellites did XJS-A & XJS-B launch?
2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, none of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).