On Monday, October 13, China successfully launched a new experimental satellite designed to test optical visualization technologies. This was reported by the state broadcaster CCTV.
The satellite, named “Shiyan-31”, was launched into Earth orbit by the Long March-2D rocket at 18:00 local time (13:00 Kyiv time) from the Jiuquan launch site in the Gobi Desert.
Specific details about the satellite's characteristics remain undisclosed, but it is known that it will be used to validate new optical visualization technologies.
This mission marks the 599th flight of the Long March rocket series. China is actively advancing its national space program, developing meteorological, telecommunications, and navigation satellites, as well as technologies aimed at lunar exploration. With government support, Chinese experts are working on asteroid and Mars exploration projects. A Chinese space station for international cooperation is also operating in orbit. In 2024, China conducted 68 space launches.