A Long March 2D (CZ-2D) rocket lifted off from Jiuquan at 0700 GMT on 13 January 2023. Aboard were three satellites. The primary payload was the Yaogan-37 remote sensing satellite. The other satellites aboard were Shiyan-22A and Shiyan-22B which are thought to have a technology test function.
Comment by Matt Wilson: The two co-payloads listed here were misreported by us and several other news outlets, including Xinhua, China’s official news agency, as being launched on 8 January accompanying Shi Jian 23 to GEO on a Long March 7A (CZ-7A) rocket. At the time, this seemed unusual as it was would be expected that such small Shiyan-class satellites would to go to LEO. It now appears that this reporting was in error as these two satellites were launched on 13 January on the flight noted above. Another confirming fact is that the US Space Force has only recorded two objects from the original launch on the Long March 7A flight on 8 January: Shi Jian 23 and the rocket’s upper-stage. Despite making a new correct launch announcement, nevertheless, Xinhua has at the time of writing not corrected its original launch story.
David Todd contributed to this story.
Long March 2D launches on 13 January 2023. Courtesy: CASC
