Posted: Sat, Jan 22, 2022, 10:45 AM ET (1545 GMT)
China launched a classified satellite Jan. 16 in the country's first launch of the year. A Long March 2D lifted off at 9:35 pm EST (0235 GMT Jan. 17) and placed the Shiyan-13 satellite into orbit. Chinese state media provided no information regarding the payloads or uses of Shiyan-13, which is in an orbit of 357 by 1,297 kilometers inclined at 98.7 degrees. The launch was the first of more than 40 planned for this year by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., following up on its 48 Long March launches last year.

Related Links:

•  SpaceNews article
•  Xinhua article