CLASSIFIED
SHIJIAN-31 (SJ-31)
Chinese Experimental Satellite (Technology Demonstrator) · CASC
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Shijian-31, one of the newest satellites in China's long-running technology demonstration program as of this writing, launched into the 63.4°-inclined orbital regime shared with several of China's ELINT and reconnaissance satellite families. Following a 2025 marked by the program's most consequential year yet — including a world-first in-orbit satellite refueling operation via Shijian-25 and 21 — Shijian-31's specific experimental purpose had not been publicly detailed at time of writing, continuing the program's decades-long pattern of operating with minimal public disclosure.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Highly Ellipticalswings far out, then dives back close to Earth
- Altitude
- 1,243–24,793 mi (2,001–39,901 km)
- Inclination
- 63.5°
- One orbit
- 12.5 hours1.9 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 69570
- Int’l designator
- 2026-136A
- Launched
- 2026
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
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