A Long March 3B (CZ-3B) rocket lifted-off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China, carrying a experimental communications technology test satellite into a Geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). Occurring at 1541 GMT on 24 August, this mission was roughly 4.5 hours after a Long March 2C mission earlier in the day. The satellite is known as TJSW-7 and will now propel itself up to GEO from its 197 x 35,816 km, 28.5 degree drop-off orbit.
The Long March 3B rocket lifts-off carrying the satellite into GTO. Courtesy of Xinhua/Guo Wenbin
Although the TJSW-series is described by the Chinese as communication technology test platforms, Western sources believe that these satellites also carry military payloads. Specifically, missile early-warning payloads comparable to the USA SBIRS satellites.
