23 July 2026 year Fr. 12:00 (UTC) from the Sichan Launch Center, China using a launch vehicle «Long March 3B/E» China's spacecraft was launched «Tianlian 2-06».
«Tianlian 2-06» is the sixth telecommunications spacecraft of the second generation of the Chinese group "Tianlian». The group's satellites are designed to relay data and ensure continuous communication between ground stations and spacecraft, In particular, manned ships and orbital station "Tiangong".
System «Tianlian 2»Different from the previous series «Tianlian 1» improved data transmission capabilities and allows Earth remote sensing satellites to dump large data sets even then, when they are out of line of sight of Chinese ground stations.
Carrier rocket «Long March 3B/E» one of the most successful launch vehicles of the CZ-3 series, specially designed for transporting heavy communication satellites to geostationary orbit. The additional "E" designation means a larger payload fairing, and increased fuel tanks of the launch vehicle.
This launch will expand the "Tianlian" group by another 1 KA. As of July 2026 year, ten Chinese telecommunication satellites of the "Tianlian" series are in geostationary orbit. Five of them belong to the first generation "Tianlian 1" launched from 2008 by 2021 year, and five second-generation "Tianlian 2" satellites launched from 2019 by 2026 year.
According to the CCS