View source for Engineering:Shijian

{{Short description|Series of Chinese satellites}}
{{Infobox space program
| name            = Shijian Weixing
| country         = {{flagicon|China}} People's Republic of China
| organization    = China Academy of Space Technology (CAST)
| purpose         = Unknown, varied
| status          = Active
| duration        = 1971–present
| firstflight       = 3 March 1971
| lastflight      = 8 January 2023
| launchsite      = {{Hlist | TSLC | JSLC | XSLC | WSLS}}
| launcher        = {{Hlist | Feng Bao 1 | [[Engineering:Long March 1|Long March 1]] | [[Engineering:Long March 2C|Long March 2C]] | [[Engineering:Long March 2D|Long March 2D]] | [[Engineering:Long March 3A|Long March 3A]] | [[Engineering:Long March 3B|Long March 3B]] | [[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]] | [[Engineering:Long March 4C|Long March 4C]] | [[Engineering:Long March 5|Long March 5]] | Long March 7A}}
| successes       = 37
| failures        = 5
| native_name_a   = 实践
| native_name_r   = Shíjiàn
}}
[[File:Shijian-23 Pre-Launch.png|thumb|313x313px|Shijian-23 prior to launch from Wenchang SLC]]
'''Shijian''' ({{Zh|s=实践|t=實踐|p=Shíjiàn|l=Practice}}, abbr. "SJ") is a series of satellites built and operated by the {{wipe|China}}. Some Shijian-series satellites have drawn significant concerns from the United States government and space observers who cite unannounced launches, undisclosed sub-satellites deployed in orbit, unusual orbital maneuvers, and demonstrated rendezvous proximity operations (RPO) including the close inspection and towing of other satellites.<ref name=":8">{{Cite report |url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Dickinson04.20.2021.pdf |title=United States Space Command Presentation to the Senate Armed Services Committee U.S. Senate |last=Dickinson |first=General James H. |date=21 April 2021 |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826005031/https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Dickinson04.20.2021.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Thomas G. |date=31 March 2021 |title=Unusual Behavior in GEO: SJ-17 |url=https://aerospace.csis.org/data/unusual-behavior-in-geo-sj-17/ |website=Aerospace Security, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901014917/https://aerospace.csis.org/data/unusual-behavior-in-geo-sj-17/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Tiwari |first=Sakshi |date=17 February 2022 |title=Strangling Like A Python, China Says Its Powerful 'Robotic Snake' Can Crush Enemy Satellites Like Never Before |work=The Eurasian Times |url=https://eurasiantimes.com/china-says-its-powerful-robotic-snake-can-crush-enemy-satellites/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901014920/https://eurasiantimes.com/china-says-its-powerful-robotic-snake-can-crush-enemy-satellites/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=27 January 2022 |title=China's Shijian-21 towed dead satellite to a high graveyard orbit |work=SpaceNews |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-shijian-21-spacecraft-docked-with-and-towed-a-dead-satellite/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203142431/https://spacenews.com/chinas-shijian-21-spacecraft-docked-with-and-towed-a-dead-satellite/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Little is known about the series and what differentiates it from other experimental satellite series launched by China such as the Chuangxin ({{Zh|s=创新|t=|p=Chuàngxīn|l=Innovation}}) series or Shiyan ({{Zh|s=实验|t=|p=Shíyàn|l=Experiment}}) series.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Chia |first=Henry |date=7 December 2021 |title=What we know about China's Shijian-class satellites |work=asiaMARKETS |url=https://www.asiamarkets.com/what-we-know-about-chinas-shijian-class-satellites/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828231358/https://www.asiamarkets.com/what-we-know-about-chinas-shijian-class-satellites/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The China Aerospace Studies Institute of the {{wipe|United States Air Force}} asserts that [[Engineering:Shiyan (satellite)|Shiyan-series satellites]] play an earlier role in the systems development process testing various new technologies on a single bus while Shijan-series satellites are used to develop operational best practices and optimize the technologies previously tested on Shiyan-series satellites.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Burke |first=Kristin |date=28 March 2022 |title=Initial Analysis of Two Chinese Satellite Series: Shi Jian and Shi Yan |url=https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/CASI%20Articles/2022-03-28%20China%27s%20Shi%20Jian%20and%20Shi%20Yan%20Satellite%20Series.pdf?ver=QNr9cH11aXNFR1Nysc4zXw%3d%3d |journal=China Aerospace Studies Institute |issue=March 2022 |access-date=2023-12-02 |archive-date=2023-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007044053/https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/CASI%20Articles/2022-03-28%20China%27s%20Shi%20Jian%20and%20Shi%20Yan%20Satellite%20Series.pdf?ver=QNr9cH11aXNFR1Nysc4zXw== |url-status=live }}</ref> In this regard, "Shijian" should be translated as "best practice", or "put into practice" while "Shiyan" ought to be translated as "experiment", "pilot", or "trial".

== Notable satellites ==

=== Shijian-17 ===
Launched into [[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|geostationary orbit]] aboard a [[Engineering:Long March 5|Long March 5]] rocket on 3 November 2016 from Wenchang Space Launch Site, Shijian -17 is the first Chinese satellite to bear a robotic arm. Observers question the robotic arm's [[Engineering:Dual-use technology|dual-purposes]] for [[Astronomy:Space debris|space debris]] cleanup and kinetic attacks against adversary satellites.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dan |first=Robitzski |date=24 May 2021 |title=The Head of US Space Command Fears China's Giant Robot Arms |work=Futurism.com |url=https://futurism.com/space-command-fears-giant-robot-arms |access-date=6 November 2023 |archive-date=6 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106021821/https://futurism.com/space-command-fears-giant-robot-arms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Moriyasu |first=Ken |date=21 April 2021 |title=China can 'grapple' US satellites with robotic arm, commander says |work=Nikkei Asia |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/US-China-tensions/China-can-grapple-US-satellites-with-robotic-arm-commander-says |access-date=6 November 2023 |archive-date=6 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106021821/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/US-China-tensions/China-can-grapple-US-satellites-with-robotic-arm-commander-says |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Zhen |first=Liu |date=22 May 2021 |title=China space station's giant robotic arm sparks concerns in US |work=South China Morning Post |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3134500/china-space-stations-giant-robotic-arm-sparks-concerns-us |access-date=6 November 2023 |archive-date=6 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106021821/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3134500/china-space-stations-giant-robotic-arm-sparks-concerns-us |url-status=live }}</ref>

In an April 2021 written statement to the US Senate Armed Services Committee, General James H. Dickinson, Commander of United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) was the first US official to speak publicly on Shijian-17 warning of its counterspace capabilities. General Dickinson wrote "[[Place:Beijing|Beijing]] actively seeks space superiority through space and space attack systems. One notable object is the Shijian-17, a Chinese satellite with a robotic arm. Space-based robotic arm technology could be used in a future system for grappling other satellites."<ref name=":82">{{Cite report |url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Dickinson04.20.2021.pdf |title=United States Space Command Presentation to the Senate Armed Services Committee U.S. Senate |last=Dickinson |first=General James H. |date=21 April 2021 |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826005031/https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Dickinson04.20.2021.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Shijian-17 has also prompted concern among observers who have tracked Shijian-17's unique [[Astronomy:Orbital maneuver|orbital maneuvers]]. Since its launch, Shijian-17 has occupied a wide span of orbital positions within its [[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|geostationary orbit]] to dynamically adjust its position relative to neighboring satellites. These varied positions have ranged from 37.7°E over [[Earth:Africa|Africa]] to 180°E over the Marshall Islands, uncharacteristic of other satellites designed for communications. Shijian-17 has also positioned itself as close as 55 kilometers to other satellites for periods of a week or more while other geostationary satellites maintain an average 207-kilometer separation distance.<ref name=":92">{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Thomas G. |date=31 March 2021 |title=Unusual Behavior in GEO: SJ-17 |url=https://aerospace.csis.org/data/unusual-behavior-in-geo-sj-17/ |website=Aerospace Security, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901014917/https://aerospace.csis.org/data/unusual-behavior-in-geo-sj-17/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Colin |date=18 April 2018 |title=China Satellite SJ-17, Friendly Wanderer |work=Breaking Defense |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2018/04/china-satellite-sj-17-friendly-wanderer/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901014855/https://breakingdefense.com/2018/04/china-satellite-sj-17-friendly-wanderer/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":102">{{Cite news |last=Tiwari |first=Sakshi |date=17 February 2022 |title=Strangling Like A Python, China Says Its Powerful 'Robotic Snake' Can Crush Enemy Satellites Like Never Before |work=The Eurasian Times |url=https://eurasiantimes.com/china-says-its-powerful-robotic-snake-can-crush-enemy-satellites/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901014920/https://eurasiantimes.com/china-says-its-powerful-robotic-snake-can-crush-enemy-satellites/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Shijian-17's robotic arm also earned mentions in the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense's congressionally-mandated ''Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments involving the People's Republic of China''.<ref name=":11">{{Cite book |url=https://media.defense.gov/2022/Nov/29/2003122279/-1/-1/1/2022-MILITARY-AND-SECURITY-DEVELOPMENTS-INVOLVING-THE-PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA.PDF |title=2022 Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, Annual Report to Congress |publisher=United States Department of Defense |year=2022 |location=Arlington, VA |pages=93 |access-date=2022-11-30 |archive-date=2023-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625200258/https://media.defense.gov/2022/Nov/29/2003122279/-1/-1/1/2022-MILITARY-AND-SECURITY-DEVELOPMENTS-INVOLVING-THE-PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The 2022 report, the first to mention Shijian satellites by name, announced "The Shijian-17 is a Chinese satellite with a robotic arm. Space-based robotic arm technology could be used in a future system for grappling other satellites."<ref name=":11" /> The 2023 report specified "The Shijian-17 was the PRC's first satellite with a robotic arm, technology that could be used in a future system for grappling adversary satellites."<ref name=":17">{{Cite book |url=https://media.defense.gov/2023/Oct/19/2003323409/-1/-1/1/2023-MILITARY-AND-SECURITY-DEVELOPMENTS-INVOLVING-THE-PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA.PDF |title=2023 Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, Annual Report to Congress |publisher=United States Department of Defense |year=2023 |location=Arlington, VA |pages=103 |access-date=2023-11-06 |archive-date=2023-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107071131/https://media.defense.gov/2023/Oct/19/2003323409/-1/-1/1/2023-MILITARY-AND-SECURITY-DEVELOPMENTS-INVOLVING-THE-PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA.PDF |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Shijian-18 ===
Shijian-18 was a Chinese communications and technology demonstration satellite developed and launched by the China Academy of Space Technology on 2 July 2017. It was the maidan flight of the DHF-5 satellite bus, which is designed with 16-year lifespan. Shijian-18 carried 18 experiments on board involving communications and space telescopes. It was lost after a malfunction on the [[Engineering:Long March 5|Long March 5]] rocket carrying the satellite. It would have been the heaviest geostationary satellite at the time of its launch,<ref name=":101">{{Cite web |title=Shijian-18 – CZ-5 – Shijian-18 {{!}} Spaceflight101 |url=https://spaceflight101.com/long-march-5-shijian-18/shijian-18/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209052800/https://spaceflight101.com/long-march-5-shijian-18/shijian-18/ |archive-date=2021-12-09 |access-date=2021-12-09 |language=en-US}}</ref> with a launch mass of 7,600 kg (16,800 lb). The satellite incorporated a high-thrust [[Engineering:Ion thruster|ion propulsion]] system, a large trussed structure and a higher payload capacity.<ref name=":1012">{{Cite web |title=Shijian-18 – CZ-5 – Shijian-18 {{!}} Spaceflight101 |url=https://spaceflight101.com/long-march-5-shijian-18/shijian-18/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209052800/https://spaceflight101.com/long-march-5-shijian-18/shijian-18/ |archive-date=2021-12-09 |access-date=2021-12-09 |language=en-US}}</ref> More specifically, it used the LIPS-300 [[Engineering:Ion thruster|xenon thruster]] for orbit keeping, developed by the Lanzhou Institute of Physics. It was planned for the LIPS-300 system to be fully certified in this mission so that it could be used for geostationary and deep-space operations. The satellite would operate at the [[Astronomy:Ka band|Ka band]] with 70 Gb/s capacity, capable of providing broadband internet to whole mainland China.<ref name=":1013">{{Cite web |title=Shijian-18 – CZ-5 – Shijian-18 {{!}} Spaceflight101 |url=https://spaceflight101.com/long-march-5-shijian-18/shijian-18/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209052800/https://spaceflight101.com/long-march-5-shijian-18/shijian-18/ |archive-date=2021-12-09 |access-date=2021-12-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Shijian-18 launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on 2 July 2017 at 11:23 [[Physics:Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] on board a Long March 5 rocket to a geostationary orbit. It was the rocket's second flight, the first being to launch Shijian-17.<ref name="spaceflightnow">{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |title=China launches Long March 5, one of the world's most powerful rockets – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/11/03/china-launches-long-march-5-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-rockets/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209052801/https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/11/03/china-launches-long-march-5-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-rockets/ |archive-date=2021-12-09 |access-date=2021-12-09 |language=en-US}}</ref> The rocket encountered an anomaly shortly after launch, causing it to switch into a gentler trajectory. However, 45 minutes into the flight, it was declared a failure, with the loss of the payload.<ref name="spaceflightnow2">{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |title=China launches Long March 5, one of the world's most powerful rockets – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/11/03/china-launches-long-march-5-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-rockets/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209052801/https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/11/03/china-launches-long-march-5-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-rockets/ |archive-date=2021-12-09 |access-date=2021-12-09 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="spacetech">{{Cite web |last=Goh |first=Deyana |date=2017-07-03 |title=Long March 5-Y2 fails, Shijian-18 satellite lost |url=https://www.spacetechasia.com/long-march-5-y2-fails-shijian-18-satellite-lost/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209052802/https://www.spacetechasia.com/long-march-5-y2-fails-shijian-18-satellite-lost/ |archive-date=2021-12-09 |access-date=2021-12-09 |website=SpaceTech Asia |language=en-US}}</ref> The cause of the failure was later determined to be a faulty oxidizer turbopump, which has now been redesigned twice.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-27 |title=Successful Long March 5 launch opens way for China's major space plans |url=https://spacenews.com/successful-long-march-5-launch-opens-way-for-chinas-major-space-plans/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506222255/https://spacenews.com/successful-long-march-5-launch-opens-way-for-chinas-major-space-plans/ |archive-date=2021-05-06 |access-date=2021-12-09 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref> The rocket and payload crashed in the Pacific Ocean somewhere at the Philippine Sea.<ref name="spaceflightnow3">{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |title=China launches Long March 5, one of the world's most powerful rockets – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/11/03/china-launches-long-march-5-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-rockets/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209052801/https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/11/03/china-launches-long-march-5-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-rockets/ |archive-date=2021-12-09 |access-date=2021-12-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Shijian-21 ===
In October 2021, China launched Shijian 21 (SJ-21) from Xichang Space Launch Center (XSLC) aboard a Long March 3B rocket into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). Atypically, China issued no notifications prior to the launch confirming only after the satellite's successful launch.<ref name=":52">{{Cite news |last=Chia |first=Henry |date=7 December 2021 |title=What we know about China's Shijian-class satellites |work=asiaMARKETS |url=https://www.asiamarkets.com/what-we-know-about-chinas-shijian-class-satellites/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828231358/https://www.asiamarkets.com/what-we-know-about-chinas-shijian-class-satellites/ |url-status=live }}</ref> China's official state news media organization, Xinhua News Agency, described SJ-21 as an On-Orbit Service, Assembly, and Manufacturing ([[Engineering:OSAM-1|OSAM]]) satellite that would be "mainly used to test and verify space debris mitigation technologies."<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Mowthorpe |first1=Matthew |last2=Trichas |first2=Markos |date=1 August 2022 |title=A review of Chinese counterspace activities |url=https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4431/1 |journal=The Space Review |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901204545/https://thespacereview.com/article/4431/1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Burke |first=Kristin |date=9 December 2021 |title=China's SJ-21 Framed as Demonstrating Growing On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM) Capabilities |url=https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/Space/2021-12-09%20SJ-21%20and%20China%27s%20OSAM%20Capabilities.pdf |journal=China Aerospace Studies Institute |issue=Dec 2021 |access-date=2023-12-02 |archive-date=2022-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209122204/https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/Space/2021-12-09%20SJ-21%20and%20China%27s%20OSAM%20Capabilities.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Tingley |first=Brett |date=27 January 2022 |title=A Chinese Satellite Just Grappled Another And Pulled It Out Of Orbit |work=The War Zone (magazine) |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44054/a-chinese-satellite-just-grappled-another-and-pulled-it-out-of-orbit |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901164259/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44054/a-chinese-satellite-just-grappled-another-and-pulled-it-out-of-orbit |url-status=live }}</ref>

A month after its launch, SJ-21 drew some suspicion from space observers as an object, described to be an undeclared sub-satellite, began orbiting closely alongside SJ-21 shortly after its entry into [[Astronomy:Geosynchronous orbit|geosynchronous orbit]] ([[Astronomy:Geosynchronous orbit|GEO]]). The object was initially cataloged as an apogee kick motor (AKM) by the US Space Force's 18th Space Defense Squadron (SDS), however many doubt that a discarded motor would maintain the constant and proximate orbit with SJ-21 instead of gradually drifting away. SJ-21 drew further suspicion in January 2022 when, according to commercial space monitoring firm ExoAnalytic Solutions, SJ-21 went "missing" from its orbital slot to dock with defunct [[Engineering:BeiDou|Beidou]] G2 (Compass G2) [[Earth:Satellite navigation|navigation satellite]] capitalizing on the inability of optical satellites to track space-objects during the day. Shijian-21 then moved to an orbit 3,000 kilometers higher where it released the Beidou G2 satellite into [[Astronomy:Graveyard orbit|graveyard orbit]] and returned to GEO.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDCLpXCB62w&ab_channel=ExoAnalyticSolutions |title=SJ-21 Quick Look Report (January 2022) |date=28 January 2022 |type=Video presentation |language=en |publisher=ExoAnalytic Solutions |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828215718/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDCLpXCB62w&ab_channel=ExoAnalyticSolutions |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=27 January 2022 |title=China's Shijian-21 towed dead satellite to a high graveyard orbit |work=SpaceNews |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-shijian-21-spacecraft-docked-with-and-towed-a-dead-satellite/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203142431/https://spacenews.com/chinas-shijian-21-spacecraft-docked-with-and-towed-a-dead-satellite/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hitchens |first=Theresa |date=26 January 2022 |title=China's SJ-21 'tugs' dead satellite out of GEO belt: Trackers |work=Breaking Defense |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2022/01/chinas-sj-21-tugs-dead-satellite-out-of-geo-belt-trackers/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=10 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310143654/https://breakingdefense.com/2022/01/chinas-sj-21-tugs-dead-satellite-out-of-geo-belt-trackers/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Many observers suspect the spacecraft, like many of China's [[Engineering:Yaogan|Yaogan]] and [[Engineering:Gaofen|Gaofen]] satellites, serve primarily military purposes under the cover of more mundane missions.<ref name="NSF">{{cite web |last=Barbosa |first=Rui C. |date=22 April 2009 |title=Chinese launch again with YaoGan Weixing-6 remote sensing satellite |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/04/chinese-launch-again-with-yaogan-weixing-6-remote-sensing-satellite/ |access-date=23 April 2009 |website=nasaspaceflight.com |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205102900/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/04/chinese-launch-again-with-yaogan-weixing-6-remote-sensing-satellite/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Xinhua">{{cite web |date=27 April 2006 |title=2006年4月27日 "遥感卫星一号"成功发射 |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/science/2018-04/27/c_137140219.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195949/http://www.xinhuanet.com/science/2018-04/27/c_137140219.htm |archive-date=24 June 2021 |access-date=16 June 2021 |website=www.xinhuanet.com |publisher=Xinhuanet}}</ref> With SJ-21's demonstrate capability to tug satellites from their orbit and China's increasing interest in space power, the spacecraft likely also offers the Chinese government a tool for counterspace operations.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Makichuk |first=Dave |date=8 November 2021 |title=Space Force tracks Shijian-21 satellite 'companion' |work=Asia Times |url=https://asiatimes.com/2021/11/us-detects-companion-orbiting-alongside-shijian-21/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206065554/https://asiatimes.com/2021/11/us-detects-companion-orbiting-alongside-shijian-21/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":22" /> Victoria Samson, the Washington Office director for the [[Organization:Secure World Foundation|Secure World Foundation]] said "You could look at China working to develop the capability to remove inactive satellites on orbit as a way in which it is being a responsible space actor and cleaning up debris that it caused. Or you could use the lens that a lot of the US-based China watchers use and say that this could indicate that China is developing an on-orbit offensive capability."<ref name=":22" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kramer |first=Herbert J. |date=31 January 2022 |title=Shijian-21 |url=https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/shijian-21#usa-270-chinese-shiyan-12-encounter |website=eoPortal |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828215719/https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/shijian-21#usa-270-chinese-shiyan-12-encounter |url-status=live }}</ref> Samson also praised commercial space situational awareness (SSA) providers for presenting the public and academia with satellite tracking capabilities previously exclusive to government.<ref name=":22" /> China received criticism for its lack of transparency on Shijian-21's operations.<ref name=":22" />

First mentioned by name in the 2022 China Military Power Report, the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense writes "China has launched multiple satellites to conduct scientific experiments on space maintenance technologies and is conducting research on space debris cleanup; the most recent launch was the Shijian-21 launched into [[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|GEO]] in October 2021. In January 2022, Shijian-21 moved a derelict BeiDou navigation satellite into a high graveyard orbit above GEO."<ref name=":11" /> The 2023 report restated the same.<ref name=":17" />

== Satellites ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Name
!Launch
!Function
!Orbit
!Orbital apsis
!Inclination
!SCN
!COSPAR ID
!Launch site
!Launcher
!Status
|-
|Shijian 1
|3 March 1971
|Particle measurements of [[Astronomy:Cosmic ray|cosmic rays]]<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=15 June 2012 |title=Shi Jian |url=https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/shi-jian#sj-1-shi-jian-1 |website=eoPortal |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828231354/https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/shi-jian#sj-1-shi-jian-1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|LEO]]
|266&nbsp;km × 1826&nbsp;km
|69.9°
|5007
|{{Cospar|id=1971-018A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 1|Long March 1]]
|Decayed
|-
|Shijian 2
|19 September 1981
|Space dust/debris and [[Physics:Electromagnetism|EM]] study<ref name=":6" />
|[[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|LEO]]
|232&nbsp;km × 1598&nbsp;km
|59.4°
|12845
|{{Cospar|id=1981-093D}}
|JSLC
|Feng Bao 1
|Decayed
|-
|Shijian 2A
|19 September 1981
|Space dust/debris and [[Physics:Electromagnetism|EM]] study<ref name=":6" />
|[[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|LEO]]
|232&nbsp;km × 1615&nbsp;km
|59.4°
|12843
|{{Cospar|id=1981-093B}}
|JSLC
|Feng Bao 1
|Decayed
|-
|Shijian 2B
|19 September 1981
|Space dust/debris and [[Physics:Electromagnetism|EM]] study<ref name=":6" />
|[[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|LEO]]
|232&nbsp;km × 1608&nbsp;km
|59.4º
|12842
|{{Cospar|id=1981-093A}}
|JSLC
|Feng Bao 1
|Decayed
|-
|Shijian 3
|N/A
|Earth observation<ref name=":53">{{Cite news |last=Chia |first=Henry |date=7 December 2021 |title=What we know about China's Shijian-class satellites |work=asiaMARKETS |url=https://www.asiamarkets.com/what-we-know-about-chinas-shijian-class-satellites/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828231358/https://www.asiamarkets.com/what-we-know-about-chinas-shijian-class-satellites/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Krebs |first=Gunter D. |date=21 July 2019 |title=SJ 3 |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-3.htm |website=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828231354/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-3.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Krebs |first=Gunter D. |date=26 December 2021 |title=CBERS 1, 2, 2B / ZY-1 01, 02, 02B |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/cbers-1.htm |website=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=7 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007064559/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/cbers-1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="8" |Cancelled, replaced by [[Engineering:CBERS-1|CBERS ZY-1]]<ref name=":53" />
|-
|Shijian 4
|8 February 1994
|Space radiation monitoring<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Krebs |first=Gunter D. |date=21 July 2019 |title=SJ 4 |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-4.htm |website=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828231354/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-4.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6" />
|[[Astronomy:Highly elliptical orbit|HEO]]
|210&nbsp;km × 36125&nbsp;km
|28.6º
|22996
|{{Cospar|id=1994-010A}}
|XSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 3A|Long March 3A]]
|Decayed
|-
|Shijian 5
|10 May 1999
|Test new minisatellite platform, particle measurement<ref name=":6" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|569&nbsp;km × 849&nbsp;km
|98.8°
|25731
|{{Cospar|id=1999-025B}}
|TSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Decayed
|-
|Shijian 6-01B
|8 September 2004
|Space environment monitoring or [[Signals intelligence#Electronic signals intelligence|ELINT]]<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Krebs |first=Gunter D. |date=23 March 2022 |title=SJ 6-01, ..., 6-05 |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-6.htm |website=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901025651/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-6.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|585.4&nbsp;km × 585.2&nbsp;km
|97.7°
|28414
|{{Cospar|id=2004-035B}}
|TSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 6-01A
|8 September 2004
|Space environment monitoring or [[Signals intelligence#Electronic signals intelligence|ELINT]]<ref name=":12" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|579.8&nbsp;km × 596.7&nbsp;km
|97.7°
|28413
|{{Cospar|id=2004-035A}}
|TSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 6-02A
|23 October 2006
|Space environment monitoring or [[Signals intelligence#Electronic signals intelligence|ELINT]]<ref name=":12" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|591.0&nbsp;km × 593.4&nbsp;km
|97.8°
|29506
|{{Cospar|id=2006-046B}}
|TSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 6-02B
|23 October 2006
|Space environment monitoring or [[Signals intelligence#Electronic signals intelligence|ELINT]]<ref name=":12" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|583.1&nbsp;km × 587.7&nbsp;km
|97.8°
|29505
|{{Cospar|id=2006-046A}}
|TSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 6-03A
|25 October 2008
|Space environment monitoring or [[Signals intelligence#Electronic signals intelligence|ELINT]]<ref name=":12" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|576.5&nbsp;km  × 599.1&nbsp;km
|97.8°
|33409
|{{Cospar|id=2008-053B}}
|TSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 6-03B
|25 October 2008
|Space environment monitoring or [[Signals intelligence#Electronic signals intelligence|ELINT]]<ref name=":12" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|573.9&nbsp;km × 600.1&nbsp;km
|97.9°
|33408
|{{Cospar|id=2008-053A}}
|TSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 6-04A
|6 October 2010
|Space environment monitoring or [[Signals intelligence#Electronic signals intelligence|ELINT]]<ref name=":12" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|585.9&nbsp;km × 600.1&nbsp;km
|97.8°
|37180
|{{Cospar|id=2010-051B}}
|TSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 6-04B
|6 October 2010
|Space environment monitoring or [[Signals intelligence#Electronic signals intelligence|ELINT]]<ref name=":12" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|570.6&nbsp;km × 606.8&nbsp;km
|97.8°
|37179
|{{Cospar|id=2010-051A}}
|TSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 6-05A
|10 December 2021
|Space environment monitoring or [[Signals intelligence#Electronic signals intelligence|ELINT]]<ref name=":12" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|467.5&nbsp;km × 475.4&nbsp;km
|97.3°
|49961
|{{Cospar|id=2021-122A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 6-05B
|10 December 2021
|Space environment monitoring or [[Signals intelligence#Electronic signals intelligence|ELINT]]<ref name=":12" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|467.5&nbsp;km × 475.4&nbsp;km
|93.9°
|49962
|{{Cospar|id=2021-122B}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 7
|5 July 2005
|Unknown
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|557.4&nbsp;km × 605.5&nbsp;km
|97.7°
|28737
|{{Cospar|id=2005-024A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2D|Long March 2D]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 8
|9 September 2006
|Space agricultural experiments<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krebs |first=Gunter D. |date=14 September 2020 |title=SJ 8 |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-8.htm |website=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901025649/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-8.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|LEO]]
|177&nbsp;km × 445&nbsp;km
|63.0°
|29385
|{{Cospar|id=2006-035A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2C|Long March 2C]]
|Decayed
|-
|Shijian 9A
|14 October 2012
|Optical imaging, environmental monitoring<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |date=26 October 2012 |title=Shi Jian-9 |url=https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/shi-jian-9#lwir-long-wave-infrared-camera |website=eoPortal |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901025650/https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/shi-jian-9#lwir-long-wave-infrared-camera |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|622&nbsp;km × 647&nbsp;km
|98.0°
|38860
|{{Cospar|id=2012-056A}}
|TSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2C|Long March 2C]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 9B
|14 October 2012
|Optical imaging, environmental monitoring, [[Physics:Infrared|LWIR]]<ref name=":13" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|623&nbsp;km × 649&nbsp;km
|97.99°
|38861
|{{Cospar|id=2012-056B}}
|TSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2C|Long March 2C]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 10
|5 April 2016
|Retrievable microgravity experiments<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christy |first=Robert |date=20 April 2016 |title=Shijian 10 |url=http://www.orbitalfocus.uk/Diaries/China/Shijian/SJ10analysis.php |website=Orbital Focus |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901025657/http://www.orbitalfocus.uk/Diaries/China/Shijian/SJ10analysis.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|LEO]]
|234&nbsp;km × 268&nbsp;km
|42.89°
|41448
|{{Cospar|id=2016-023A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2D|Long March 2D]]
|Decayed
|-
|Shijian 11-01
|12 November 2009
|Launch warning, [[Physics:Infrared|IR]] tracking<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Wade |first=Mark |title=SJ-11 |url=http://www.astronautix.com/s/sj-11.html |website=Astronautix |access-date=2022-09-02 |archive-date=2022-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520204457/http://www.astronautix.com/s/sj-11.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|689.7&nbsp;km × 708.1&nbsp;km
|97.9°
|36088
|{{Cospar|id=2009-061A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2C|Long March 2C]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 11-02
|29 July 2011
|Launch warning, [[Physics:Infrared|IR]] tracking<ref name=":14" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|678.5&nbsp;km × 701.3&nbsp;km
|98.4°
|37765
|{{Cospar|id=2011-039A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2C|Long March 2C]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 11-03
|6 July 2011
|Launch warning, [[Physics:Infrared|IR]] tracking<ref name=":14" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|689.8&nbsp;km × 704.1&nbsp;km
|97.8°
|37730
|{{Cospar|id=2011-030A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2C|Long March 2C]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 11-04
|18 August 2011
|Launch warning, [[Physics:Infrared|IR]] tracking<ref name=":14" />
| colspan="5" |''(Launch Failure)''
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2C|Long March 2C]]
|Payload lost in rocket failure<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krebs |first=Gunter D. |date=14 September 2020 |title=SJ 11 |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-11.htm |website=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901025648/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-11.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|Shijian 11-05
|15 July 2013
|Launch warning, [[Physics:Infrared|IR]] tracking<ref name=":14" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|689.4&nbsp;km × 703.3&nbsp;km
|98.2°
|39202
|{{Cospar|id=2013-035A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2C|Long March 2C]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 11-06
|31 March 2014
|Launch warning, [[Physics:Infrared|IR]] tracking<ref name=":14" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|692.3&nbsp;km × 713.6&nbsp;km
|98.1°
|39624
|{{Cospar|id=2014-014A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2C|Long March 2C]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 11-07
|28 September 2014
|Launch warning, [[Physics:Infrared|IR]] tracking<ref name=":14" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|690.6&nbsp;km × 706.3&nbsp;km
|98.1°
|40261
|{{Cospar|id=2014-059A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2C|Long March 2C]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 11-08
|27 October 2014
|Launch warning, [[Physics:Infrared|IR]] tracking<ref name=":14" />
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|685.0&nbsp;km × 701.7&nbsp;km
|98.2°
|40286
|{{Cospar|id=2014-066A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2C|Long March 2C]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 12
|15 June 2010
|Scientific research<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barbosa |first=Rui C. |date=14 June 2010 |title=China launch Shi Jian-12 satellite on research mission |work=NASA Spaceflight |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/06/china-launch-shi-jian-12-satellite-research-mission/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901025656/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/06/china-launch-shi-jian-12-satellite-research-mission/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|575&nbsp;km × 599&nbsp;km
|97.68°
|36596
|{{Cospar|id=2010-027A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2D|Long March 2D]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 13
|12 April 2017
|High-throughput communications<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 February 2017 |title=China to help Pakistan build larger capacity telecom network |work=The Nation (Pakistan) |url=https://nation.com.pk/21-Feb-2017/china-to-help-pakistan-build-larger-capacity-telecom-network |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201162337/https://nation.com.pk/21-Feb-2017/china-to-help-pakistan-build-larger-capacity-telecom-network |archive-date=1 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 February 2017 |title=China to launch first high-throughput communications satellite in April |work=Space Daily |url=https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_to_launch_first_high_throughput_communications_satellite_in_April_999.html |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901025652/https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_to_launch_first_high_throughput_communications_satellite_in_April_999.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=12 April 2017 |title=China Focus: China launches 1st high-throughput communications satellite |work=Xinhua News Agency |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com//english/2017-04/12/c_136203417.htm |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901025657/http://www.xinhuanet.com//english/2017-04/12/c_136203417.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|GEO]]
|35,765.3&nbsp;km × 35,823.8&nbsp;km
|0.1°
|42662
|{{Cospar|id=2017-018A}}
|XSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 3B|Long March 3B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 15
|19 July 2013
|Unknown payload deployment<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christy |first=Robert |date=10 August 2013 |title=Shijian-15 |url=http://www.orbitalfocus.uk/Diaries/China/Shijian/SJ15.php |website=Orbital Focus |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901025657/http://www.orbitalfocus.uk/Diaries/China/Shijian/SJ15.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]
|670.6&nbsp;km × 678.4&nbsp;km
|98.0°
|39210
|{{Cospar|id=2013-037C}}
|TSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4C|Long March 4C]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 16-01
|25 October 2013
|Space environment monitoring or [[Signals intelligence|SIGINT]]<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |title=SJ 16-02 |url=https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=41634 |website=N2YO |access-date=2022-09-02 |archive-date=2022-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901025656/https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=41634 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite web |last=Krebs |first=Gunter D. |date=11 April 2021 |title=SJ 16 |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-16.htm |website=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901025653/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-16.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|LEO]]
|599&nbsp;km × 616&nbsp;km
|74.98°
|39358
|{{Cospar|id=2013-057A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 16-02
|29 June 2016
|Space environment monitoring or [[Signals intelligence|SIGINT]]<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":16" />
|[[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|LEO]]
|596&nbsp;km × 616&nbsp;km
|75.00°
|41634
|{{Cospar|id=2016-043A}}
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 4B|Long March 4B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 17
|3 November 2016
|Communications and debris inspection or counterspace<ref>{{Cite news |title=In-Space Eavesdropping? – China's Shijian-17 completes High-Altitude Link-Up |work=Spaceflight101 |url=https://spaceflight101.com/cz-5-maiden-flight/shijian-17-rendezvous-with-chinasat-5a/ |access-date=2022-09-02 |archive-date=2022-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901025659/https://spaceflight101.com/cz-5-maiden-flight/shijian-17-rendezvous-with-chinasat-5a/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|GEO]]
|35,827.1&nbsp;km × 35,835.4&nbsp;km
|2.2°
|41838
|{{Cospar|id=2016-065A}}
|WSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 5|Long March 5]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 18
|2 July 2017
|Test of new DFH-5 platform, telecom<ref name=":10132">{{Cite web |title=Shijian-18 – CZ-5 – Shijian-18 {{!}} Spaceflight101 |url=https://spaceflight101.com/long-march-5-shijian-18/shijian-18/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209052800/https://spaceflight101.com/long-march-5-shijian-18/shijian-18/ |archive-date=2021-12-09 |access-date=2021-12-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>
| colspan="5" |''(Launch Failure)''
|WSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 5|Long March 5]]
|Payload lost in rocket failure<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krebs |first=Gunter D. |date=22 December 2020 |title=SJ 18 |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-18.htm |website=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=9 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209052800/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sj-18.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|Shijian 19
|''TBA''
|Returnable microgravity experiments<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 June 2019 |title=广梅一号"为苏区振兴插上翅膀 |language=zh |trans-title="Guangmei No. 1" adds wings to the revitalization of the Soviet area |work=Sina News |url=https://news.sina.com.cn/w/2019-06-11/doc-ihvhiews7975677.shtml |access-date=2022-09-02 |archive-date=2022-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828223738/https://news.sina.com.cn/w/2019-06-11/doc-ihvhiews7975677.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lanyue |first=Hu |date=10 July 2019 |title=能送半吨货往返太空！我国新一代商业返回式卫星拟明年首发 |language=zh |trans-title=Can send half a ton of cargo to and from space! my country's new generation of commercial returnable satellites to be launched next year |work=[[Company:China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation|China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]] |editor-last=Yiming |editor-first=Yang Chenggao |url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/xDMg4t_CA2H6nBFhWQk2jA |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828223735/https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/xDMg4t_CA2H6nBFhWQk2jA |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="5" |Planned: not yet launched
|JSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 2D|Long March 2D]]
|Planned
|-
|Shijian 20
|27 December 2019
|Test of new DFH-5 platform, experimental quantum telecom<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shijian-20 |url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/825 |website=Next Spaceflight |access-date=2022-09-02 |archive-date=2022-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828223736/https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/825 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chen |first=Stephen |date=27 July 2022 |title=China launches new satellite in 'important step' towards global quantum communications network |work=South China Morning Post |url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/825 |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828223736/https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/825 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|GEO]]
|35,774.9&nbsp;km × 35,814.1&nbsp;km
|1.347°
|44910
|{{Cospar|id=2019-097A}}
|WSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 5|Long March 5]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 21
|24 October 2021
|Debris clean-up or counterspace<ref name=":32">{{Cite news |last=Tingley |first=Brett |date=27 January 2022 |title=A Chinese Satellite Just Grappled Another And Pulled It Out Of Orbit |work=The War Zone (magazine) |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44054/a-chinese-satellite-just-grappled-another-and-pulled-it-out-of-orbit |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901164259/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44054/a-chinese-satellite-just-grappled-another-and-pulled-it-out-of-orbit |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":23">{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=27 January 2022 |title=China's Shijian-21 towed dead satellite to a high graveyard orbit |work=SpaceNews |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-shijian-21-spacecraft-docked-with-and-towed-a-dead-satellite/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203142431/https://spacenews.com/chinas-shijian-21-spacecraft-docked-with-and-towed-a-dead-satellite/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|GEO]]
|36,217.7&nbsp;km × 36,217.7&nbsp;km
|8.580°
|49330
|{{Cospar|id=2021-094A}}
|XSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 3B|Long March 3B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 21 (subsat)
|24 October 2021
| colspan="4" |''Unknown<ref name=":23" /><ref name=":42">{{Cite news |last=Makichuk |first=Dave |date=8 November 2021 |title=Space Force tracks Shijian-21 satellite 'companion' |work=Asia Times |url=https://asiatimes.com/2021/11/us-detects-companion-orbiting-alongside-shijian-21/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206065554/https://asiatimes.com/2021/11/us-detects-companion-orbiting-alongside-shijian-21/ |url-status=live }}</ref>''
|49382
|{{Cospar|id=2021-094C}}
|XSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 3B|Long March 3B]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 23
|8 January 2023
|Classified
|[[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|GEO]]
|35,769.1&nbsp;km × 35,816.8&nbsp;km
|0.6°
|55131
|{{Cospar|id=2023-002A}}
|WSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 7|Long March 7A]]
|Operational
|-
|Shijian 23 (subsat)
|8 January 2023
| colspan="4" |''Unknown<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=27 January 2023 |title=Classified Chinese satellite releases small object in orbit |work=Space |url=https://www.space.com/classified-chinese-satellite-shijian-23-releases-subsatellite |access-date=27 January 2023 |archive-date=27 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127033310/https://www.space.com/classified-chinese-satellite-shijian-23-releases-subsatellite |url-status=live }}</ref>''
|55180
|{{Cospar|id=2023-002C}}
|WSLC
|[[Engineering:Long March 7|Long March 7A]]
|Operational
|-
| colspan="11" |<small>Sources: NORAD, [[Organization:NASA|NASA]], USSPACECOM, [https://celestrak.org/satcat/search.php Celestrak], [https://space.skyrocket.de/ Gunter's Space Page]</small>
|}

== See also ==

* [[Engineering:Yaogan|Yaogan]]
* [[Engineering:Gaofen (satellite)|Gaofen]]
* Fengyun

== References ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight|China
}}<references />{{CNSA space program}}
[[Category:Satellite series]]

{{Sourceattribution|Shijian}}