China kicks off 2020 with mystery satellite launch: report

By Elizabeth Howell
last updated

The satellite is called TJS 5. But what IS it?

The first rocket launch of 2020 by China's space agency was a mystery payload, with state-run media and independent analysts making different claims about the goal of the mission.

Chinese media said a Long March 3B rocket sent a satellite into space from Xichang Space Center in Sichuan province (southwest China) at 10:20 a.m. EST Tuesday (1520 GMT or 11:20 p.m. Beijing time.) 

Footage from Chinese media outlet CCTV shows the rocket soaring into a black sky, with orange flames spurting out below. Media said the satellite was sent into geostationary orbit 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) above Earth.

Video: Watch China's Long March 3B mystery launch soar

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket launched the TJS 5 experimental satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Jan. 7, 2020.  (Image credit: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation)

"It will be used in communication, radio, television and data transmission, as well as [a] high throughput technology test," said CCTV in a statement. "Throughput" refers to the amount of data moved from one place to another in a given time period. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation declared the mission a success, according to a translation of its website.

Since China usually identifies who owns or will use its satellites, and the country has remained silent about this latest launch, analysts theorize that perhaps the TJS series may have a military aspect to them.

According to SpaceflightNow, in 2017 the TJS 2 satellite launched with no specific announcement about its mission. At the time, analysts said that it could provide services such as missile detection, but this has not been confirmed.

China is expected to deploy more than 40 satellites in 2020. The last quarter of 2019 was very busy for this country, as it began to launch multiple missions within days or hours of each other. In one case, the country launched two rockets only six hours apart, at the same launching site.

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Elizabeth Howell
Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace

1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • rod
    Admin said:
    China's first rocket launch of 2020 was a mystery payload, with Chinese state media and independent analysts making different claims about the goal of the mission.

    China kicks off 2020 with mystery satellite launch: report : Read more

    "Since China usually identifies who owns or will use its satellites, and the country has remained silent about this latest launch, analysts theorize that perhaps the TJS series may have a military aspect to them."

    Interesting.
    Reply