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Surprise Chinese launch sends Shiyan-31 experimental satellite into orbit

Written by  Andrew Jones Monday, 13 October 2025 20:48
A Long March 2D rocket launches vertically beside a tall, cream-colored service tower at China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. Thick orange exhaust and flames pour from the rocket’s base, spreading across the gray launch pad. The tower bears large red Chinese characters reading “Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
” The sky above is pale blue with scattered clouds, and the scene is brightly lit by afternoon sunlight." decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Shiyan31-CZ2D-JSLC-13oct2025-ourspace-1.jpg?w=1291&ssl=1 1291w, https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Shiyan31-CZ2D-JSLC-13oct2025-ourspace-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Shiyan31-CZ2D-JSLC-13oct2025-ourspace-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Shiyan31-CZ2D-JSLC-13oct2025-ourspace-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Shiyan31-CZ2D-JSLC-13oct2025-ourspace-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Shiyan31-CZ2D-JSLC-13oct2025-ourspace-1.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Shiyan31-CZ2D-JSLC-13oct2025-ourspace-1.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Shiyan31-CZ2D-JSLC-13oct2025-ourspace-1.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Shiyan31-CZ2D-JSLC-13oct2025-ourspace-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw">

China conducted an orbital launch Monday with no apparent advance indication, successfully sending the Shiyan-31 remote sensing test satellite into orbit.

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