China launches TJS-16 satellite on Long March 7A rocket

China has successfully launched the TJS-16 satellite aboard a Long March 7A rocket, marking another step in its series of classified satellite missions.

The launch took place from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, located on Hainan Island, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed the success of the mission an hour after liftoff. The satellite, named Tongxin Jishu Shiyan-16 (TJS-16), is primarily designed to test advanced multi-band and high-speed satellite communication technology. As with previous TJS missions, CASC has provided minimal information, revealing no images or detailed technical specifications of the satellite.

Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), TJS-16 is the latest addition to the TJS series, which is typically used for geostationary orbit (GEO) operations. These satellites are believed to support a range of sensitive missions, including signals intelligence, early warning systems, and satellite inspection activities in support of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). TJS-16 follows the launch of TJS-15, which was sent to GEO earlier this month aboard a Long March 3B rocket.

The Long March 7A, which carried the TJS-16 satellite into space, is a three-stage vehicle capable of delivering up to 7 metric tons to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The rocket’s first launch, in 2020, ended in failure, but it has since become a key vehicle for GEO missions, often seen as a potential replacement for the Long March 3B.

This launch marks China’s 16th orbital mission of 2025, following the successful deployment of the Tianlian-2 (04) data relay satellite earlier this week. As the country accelerates its space activities, with commercial and megaconstellation projects on the rise, it is aiming for over 100 launches this year, further bolstering its growing space presence.

By Vafa Guliyeva