Tongxin Jishu Shiyan
Tongxin Jishu Shiyan ( TJS ; Chinese 通信 技术 试验 , Pinyin Tōngxìn Jìshù Shìyàn - "communication technology test") is a series of geostationary satellites of the People's Republic of China . According to official information, these are experimental communication satellites . The exact purpose of TJS is kept secret, leading to speculation that it could be a signal-tracking reconnaissance satellite or a military early warning system .
Sometimes there is also the name TJSW, where the letter W stands for Weixing (satellite).
construction
Based on analysis apparently published on Chinese internet forums, it is believed that the TJS satellites are based on the SAST 5000 bus from the Shanghai Academy of Space Technology . The Shanghai Academy is part of the state space company CASC .
The satellites will weigh around 2.7 tons and, according to official information, carry a communications payload for transmissions in the Ka-band . Several sources also mention a radar system.
After takeoff (December 24, 2018), TJS 3 deployed a sub-satellite that undertook further orbit maneuvers .
Satellites
| satellite | Start date ( UTC ) | Launch site | Launcher | Cospar ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TJS 1 | September 12, 2015 | Xichang | CZ-3B | 2015-046A |
| TJS 2 | 15th January 2017 | Xichang | CZ-3B | 2017-001A |
| TJS 3 | December 24, 2018 | Xichang | CZ-3B | 2018-110A |
| TJS 4 | 17th October 2019 | Xichang | CZ-3B | 2019-070A |
| TJS 5 | January 7, 2020 | Xichang | CZ-3B / E | 2020-002A |
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Rui C. Barbosa: Long March 3B launches TJSW -4 . Nasaspaceflight.com, October 17, 2019.
- ↑ Stephen Clark: China launches mysterious geostationary satellite . Spaceflight Now, October 18, 2019
- ↑ a b c Chinese secret satellite takes off on Christmas Eve . The Orion, December 24, 2018.
- ↑ TJS 3 on Gunter's Space Page