The TJSW 5 — or TJS 5 — is the fifth in a line of secretive satellites. China often announces the owner or end users of the satellites they launch, even if government-owned. This was not the case for this launch or for any of the others in the series.  Chinese media outlet CCTV announced that the satellite “will be used in communication, radio, television and data transmission, as well as [a] high throughput technology test.”

However, observers have noted the similarity between this launch and that of TJS 2, launched on a Long March 3B back in January of 2017. Analysts have suspected that the TJS 2 satellite may have had a military mission such as missile launch and early warning detection, and that TJS 5 is likely to have a similar purpose.

Information about TJSW-5 and the launch can be found:

• TJSW-5 (RocketLaunch Live) https://www.rocketlaunch.live/launch/lm3b-20200107
• Image from People’s Daily (Weibo) https://www.weibo.com/2803301701/IoritAO6q?type=comment#_rnd1579030597975