China kicked off a busy space week by launching a pair of secretive satellites into a brand-new orbit, just hours after upgrading its orbital communications relay network. Because why do things one at a time when you can do them all at once?
The Long March 6A rocket lifted off at 9:00 p.m. Eastern July 29 (0100 UTC, July 30) from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, carrying what the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) described as communication technology test satellites 27A and 27B (TJS-27A and 27B). CASC, with the usual helpful vagueness, said the satellites are for satellite communication, broadcasting, television, data transmission, and related technology experiments. No further details, because that would ruin the fun.
The U.S. Space Force later spotted the pair in 1,153-kilometer altitude orbits with an inclination of 64.8 degrees. Jonathan McDowell, a former astrophysicist and space activity tracker, noted on X that these orbits are characteristic of time-delay-of-arrival (TDOA) electronic intelligence satellites - the U.S. equivalent being the classified Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS). "China's earlier missions in this orbit were given a Yaogan rather than TJS cover name," McDowell observed, proving that even in space, naming conventions matter.
Such satellites are believed to be for electronic intelligence (ELINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) gathering. Yaogan and NOSS satellites typically fly in triplets, orbiting in triangular formations. It's unclear if TJS-27A and B will operate as a pair, form the start of a partial constellation, or try something entirely different. Because why commit to a plan when you can keep everyone guessing?
TJS spacecraft are classified satellites that, until now, mostly hung out in geosynchronous orbits, with TJS-13 and TJS-21 sent to Molniya orbits. TJS-3, launched in 2018, released an object that then maneuvered - a subsatellite with coordinated movements, apparently. The main satellite later made close approaches to U.S. satellites, which is either friendly waving or something else. Western analysts think the series handles signals intelligence, early warning, and satellite inspection to support the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The Long March 6A is China's first liquid propellant rocket with solid rocket boosters. It had early issues with fragmentation events in orbit, but has since been used for megaconstellation launches (Guowang, Qianfan) and two Yaogan-50 satellites in unusual, highly-retrograde orbits. All in a day's work.
Just hours earlier, China launched the first of its third-generation data relay communication satellites, akin to the U.S.'s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). A Long March 7A lifted off from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center at 7:50 a.m. Eastern (1150 UTC) July 29, heading for geosynchronous transfer orbit, carrying Tianlian-3 (01).
CAST developed this satellite, part of a geostationary program to provide relay, tracking, and control support for crewed spacecraft, the Tiangong space station, and other missions. This launch came less than a week after Tianlian-2 (06), whose Long March 3B rocket got struck by lightning on ascent - because even rockets need a dramatic entrance.
Third-gen Tianlian satellites use the DFH-4E (enhanced) bus, while second-gen used the standard DFH-4. CAST says Tianlian-3 has new-generation payloads and greatly enhanced multi-user parallel data transmission. The first Tianlian launched in 2008, second gen began in 2019, and now we're on version three. Progress!
These were China's 52nd and 53rd launches of 2026, putting the country on track to exceed 100 launches in a calendar year for the first time. The Long March 7A launch was also the 50th successful mission from Wenchang, which opened in 2016. The spaceport has handled Tiangong construction, resupply, Mars, and lunar sample return missions. It will host the Chang'e-7 lunar south pole landing mission later in August.
Wenchang is also prepping for Long March 9 and Long March 10 rockets, designed for massive space infrastructure and crewed lunar missions, respectively. Because if you're going to dominate space, you might as well have the launch pads to prove it.