On April 8 at 23:01 UTC, a Chinese Long March 4B successfully launched the Shiyan 6-03 satellite into orbit from the Tàiyuán Satellite Launch Center in northern China. Several days before the launch, a sandstorm caused a delay in assembling and testing the rocket, but on launch day, the weather was favorable with clear skies.

According to the builders of the satellite, the China Academy of Sciences, the satellite will be used for “space environment detection and related technology experiments.” It was launched into a 1000km orbit inclined at 99.5 degrees. According to Gunter Krebs, who keeps detailed notes on various spaceflight info for his website, Gunter’s Space Page, this is a higher orbit than the previous two Shiyan 6 satellites that were launched in 2018 and 2020, respectively.

China’s National Center for Nanoscience and Technology also announced that one of the demonstrations aboard the Shiyan satellite is a new “nanocomposite ultra-black coating… that can absorb up to 99.6% of light in the ultraviolet to near-infrared spectrum”. Based on this source, our research team believes Shiyan 6 03 is testing imaging reconnaissance technology with stealth features. The US was rumored to operate a satellite somewhat like this called Misty. Misty was launched in 1990 on STS-36 and spent at least 7 years in orbit but hasn’t been seen by observers since 1997.

This launch marked the 365th launch of a Long March series rocket and the 41st launch of a Long March-4B.

More Information

CASC press release (Chinese)

Shiyan 6 info page (Gunter’s Space Page)

NCNT press release (Chinese)

Launch video