Posted: Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 2:30 PM ET (1930 GMT)
China wrapped up a record-breaking year with the launch of an experimental communications satellite Wednesday. A Long March 3B rocket lifted off from launch complex 2 at Xichang in southwest China at 11:43 am EST (1643 GMT) and placed the TJSW-9 satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit. The satellite was manufactured by the China Academy of Spaceflight Technology but no further details were revealed, suggesting it has at least some military uses. That launch was the 55th Chinese orbital launch attempt of 2021, far surpassing the previous record of 39 launches conducted by China in 2018 and 2020.

Related Links:

•  SpaceNews article
•  Xinhua article