29 July 2026 year Fr. 11:50 (UTC) from the Wenchang launch center, China using a launch vehicle «Long March 7А» China's spacecraft was launched «Tianlian 3-01».
«Tianlian 3-01» is the first KA of the third generation of the Chinese telecommunications group "Tianlian». Its main purpose: providing continuous communication, transmission of telemetry, control commands and data relay between ground control centers and spacecraft, which are in Earth orbit. The satellite is the Chinese counterpart of the American TDRSS system (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System).
System «Tianlian 3» differs from previous series «Tianlian 1,2» significantly increased bandwidth of channels, supporting simultaneous communication with a larger number of spacecraft, increased accuracy of pointing antennas, greater interference resistance, an improved encryption system and a longer estimated period of active existence (probably over 15 years).
Carrier rocket «Long March 7А» – Chinese medium-class three-stage launch vehicle, Developed by the Chinese Academy of Technology of Rockets (CALT), which is part of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (Hull). It is created on the basis of a two-stage Long March 7, but equipped with a cryogenic third stage, which makes it possible to launch large satellites into geotransitional orbit (GTO). The rocket was created to replace the outdated Long March 3B in the segment of launching heavy telecommunications satellites.
This launch will expand the "Tianlian" group by another 1 KA. As of July 2026 year, there are ten Chinese telecommunication satellites in the geostationary orbit «Tianlian». 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