China's secretive launch of Shijian-16-02 research satellite follows Long March 7 success


JIUQUAN, June 29, 2016 (Xinhua) -- A Long March-4B rocket carrying China's second Shijian-16 series satellite blasts off at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 29, 2016. The satellite was used for conducting spacial environment detection and technological experiments. The first Shijian-16 satellite was launched in October 2013. (Xinhua/Wang Jiangbo)

Just days after the much-vaunted and public launch of its new Long March 7 rocket, China reverted to form with the secretive launch of its Shijian-16 (02) space research satellite into low Earth orbit on Wednesday morning.

Shijian-16 (02) was launched from the Jiuquan satellite launch centre in the Gobi Desert at 11:21 Beijing time (03:21 UTC) on a hydrazine-fuelled Long March 4B rocket, sending it to an initial 595 x 616 km x 75.0° orbit.

The only indication of an imminent orbital launch came from an airspace restriction warning days earlier, which provided only small clues as to the nature of the launch.

There are few details available regarding the satellite, with China's Xinhua state news agency stating (Chinese) the mission is mainly for space environment experiments and technological testing.

The previous satellite in the series was the Shijian-10 microgravity space science mission which was launched and successfully retrieved in April. The first Shijian-16 mission was launched in October 2013.

source: gbtimes


JIUQUAN, June 29 (Xinhua) China launched its second Shijian-16 series satellite on Wednesday.



The satellite was carried by a Long March-4B rocket and took off at 11:21 a.m. from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

Wednesday's was the 231st by a Long March rocket.

The first Shijian-16 satellite was launched in October 2013

source: Xinhua