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Wenchang, Hainan – China successfully conducted another space launch on Saturday, deploying the Tongxin Jishu Shiyan-16 (TJS-16) satellite. The mission, carried out using a Long March 7A rocket from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, represents the latest in Beijing’s series of secretive experimental satellite deployments focused on advancing communication technologies. This launch underscores China’s ongoing development in space capabilities.
China Launches Classified TJS-16 Satellite
A Long March 7A rocket ascended from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan province at 12:05 p.m. Eastern (1605 UTC) on March 29, delivering the classified payload to orbit. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed the mission’s success approximately one hour post-launch. CASC identified the payload as Tongxin Jishu Shiyan-16 (TJS-16), a communication technology experiment satellite.
According to CASC’s brief statement, the TJS-16 satellite will primarily serve to validate multi-band and high-speed satellite communication technology. Consistent with previous launches in the TJS series, neither imagery nor detailed technical specifications of the satellite were released.
The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), a prominent subsidiary of CASC, oversaw the development of the TJS-16 satellite. SAST reiterated the concise description of TJS-16 and incorporated a mission insignia with its announcement.
The Opaque Nature of the TJS Series
The TJS series predominantly operates within geostationary orbit (GEO). Western analysts speculate that these satellites potentially undertake classified missions for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including signals intelligence, early warning systems, and satellite inspection operations. With the TJS-16 launch, China now possesses 15 primary TJS satellites in orbit. Notably, there is no publicly acknowledged TJS-8 satellite.
TJS-15 and its Companion Object
The TJS-16 launch follows closely on the heels of the March 9 deployment of TJS-15 from Xichang, situated in southwest China. That mission, also launched via a Long March 3B rocket, received a similarly succinct and generalized description regarding its objectives.
TJS-15 has since attained geostationary orbit. U.S. Space Force’s space domain awareness has also cataloged an apogee kick motor (AKM) associated with the TJS-15 launch. An AKM is typically employed to provide the final propulsion needed to place a satellite into its designated GEO orbit.
Currently, this AKM object appears to be orbiting several hundred kilometers above the GEO belt, which is customary for spent AKMs. However, orbital data indicates that the AKM has executed a sequence of minor orbital adjustments, hinting at low-thrust propulsion capabilities. This activity potentially mirrors observations from a prior TJS mission.
Echoes of TJS-3 Mission
The TJS-3 mission, launched in 2018, also presented an apparent AKM. Intriguingly, this object subsequently performed maneuvers, often coordinated with the primary satellite, exhibiting behavior inconsistent with a typical AKM, which generally executes only a limited number of major burns. This unusual activity surrounding TJS-3 generated considerable interest and speculation among analysts regarding its intelligence applications.
Long March 7A Rocket Capabilities
Saturday’s launch marked the ninth flight for the Long March 7A. This variant represents a three-stage configuration of the standard Long March 7, which is utilized for cargo resupply missions to the Tiangong space station in low Earth orbit.
The Long March 7A measures 60.1 meters in height and 3.35 meters in diameter. This kerosene and liquid oxygen-propelled launch vehicle incorporates four side boosters. Its first stage and boosters are powered by YF-100 engines. The launcher is capable of delivering payloads weighing up to 7 metric tons to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) and features a fairing diameter of 4.2 meters.
Development and Deployment History
The inaugural launch of the Long March 7A in 2020 resulted in a failure. This rocket is considered a prospective long-term successor to the Long March 3B, a reliable hypergolic rocket traditionally used for GEO launches. However, to date, the Long March 7A has not conducted more than two launches within a single calendar year.
China’s Expanding Space Program
The TJS-16 mission stands as China’s 16th orbital launch in 2025. It follows the recent launch of the Tianlian-2 (04) data relay satellite on March 26. China’s ambitious space program could target 100 or more launches in 2025, propelled by increasing commercial space activities, large-scale satellite constellation projects, and the development of new launch vehicles. Several new medium-lift rockets, along with potentially reusable rocket designs, are anticipated to debut this year.