Issue 134

China Launches Shijian-30 A/B/C Satellites

19 Nov 2025: China launched a LM-2C with the Shijian-30 A, B and C satellites (66545, 66546, & 66547) from Jiuquan. According to official sources, the satellites were deployed into the intended orbits and “will be mainly used for space environment exploration and related technology verification”. Launch Video . - All…

19 Nov 2025: China launched a LM-2C with the Shijian-30 A, B and C satellites (66545, 66546, & 66547) from Jiuquan. According to official sources, the satellites were deployed into the intended orbits and “will be mainly used for space environment exploration and related technology verification”. Launch Video.

– All three satellites are in 51.8° inclined orbits. As of 22 Nov their average altitudes varied slightly between 519.6-520.6km as China likely intends to increase their orbital spacing in the near term (recall 10:1 rule!)

– At their current RAAN and inclination the SJ-30 satellites are nearly co-planar with dozens of SpaceX Starlink satellites.

-The SJ-30 satellites are orbiting about 25km lower than the 547.2km average altitude maintained by many of the Starlink satellites.

– Per SBMS query there is only one Chinese satellite nearly co-planar with SJ-30…Geesat-4 09 (65127). Geesat-4 09 is inclined 50.0° and has an average altitude of 700km.

– As is normal for the Shijian family of satellites, China has not released any information on mission or capabilities of the SJ-30 trio.

– At their current average altitudes the SJ-30s will have a slightly shorter orbital period than their Starlink counterparts and will frequently pass underneath them.

In 2024 China released a report that specifically referenced capabilities against Starlink communications. Chinese officials have frequently emphasized the need to neutralize or eliminate these satellites if they threaten national security.

– Starlink has proven particularly resistant to electronic countermeasures (I’m looking at you Russia). For an excellent analysis of the difficulties Starlink presents to Electronic Warfare operations please take a look at James Spreit’s 8 Feb 2024 report.