China Launches Reconnaissance Satellite

China launched the classified Shiyan-6 (02) reconnaissance satellite on Sunday, marking the country’s second successful launch in two days.

A Long March 2D rocket lofted the spacecraft into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said the satellite will be “mainly used to carry out space environment detection and related technical tests.” Western experts believe the description is used for reconnaissance satellites.

The launch was 338th of the Long March series of launch vehicles.

The successful flight came on the heels of another Chinese launch on Friday. A Long March 4B rocket launched the latest Gaofen civilian Earth imaging satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Northern China.