Long March 3B Archives - SpaceNews

A Long March 3B rocket lifts off from a mountainous launch site in China, engines blazing with bright orange flames and thick white exhaust clouds billowing outward. The vehicle rises beside a tall blue and red service tower, surrounded by dense green forest and hills.

China launches new Gaofen-14 stereo mapping satellite

by Andrew Jones October 27, 2025October 27, 2025

China added to its Earth observation fleet late Saturday, sending a second Gaofen-14 mapping satellite into sun-synchronous orbit.

A Long March 3B rocket launches ChinaSat-9C from Xichang Satellite Launch Center at night, with flames and smoke billowing from the base and the illuminated rocket lifting off against a dark sky.

China launches ChinaSat-9C geostationary communications satellite

by Andrew Jones June 22, 2025June 22, 2025

China's Long March 3B rocket launches the Tianwen-2 asteroid and comet mission from Xichang Satellite Launch Center at night, with bright orange flames and smoke illuminating the pad.

China launches Tianwen-2 mission to sample near Earth asteroid

by Andrew Jones May 28, 2025May 28, 2025

A Long March 3B rocket lifts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at night, sending the Tianlian-2 (05) data relay satellite into orbit. Bright flames and smoke billow from the rocket’s base as it ascends past the illuminated launch tower.

Long March 3B launches Tianlian-2 (05) satellite to boost space data relay network

by Andrew Jones April 27, 2025April 27, 2025

A Long March 3B rocket lifts off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center at night, illuminating the launch pad with bright orange exhaust flames during the launch of the classified TJS-17 satellite on April 10, 2025.

China launches TJS-17, expanding classified geostationary satellite series

by Andrew Jones April 10, 2025May 12, 2025

A Long March 3B rocket lifts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at night, sending the Tianlian-2 (04) data relay satellite into orbit. Bright flames and smoke billow from the rocket’s base as it ascends past the illuminated launch tower.

China launches new Tianlian data relay satellite to support human spaceflight

by Andrew Jones March 26, 2025March 26, 2025

A Long March 3B rocket lifts off at night from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, illuminating the surroundings with bright flames and smoke. The rocket is positioned on the launch pad with its structure and scaffolding visible, silhouetted against the dark sky.

China expands secretive satellite series with launch of TJS-15

by Andrew Jones March 9, 2025March 9, 2025

A Long March 3B rocket lifts off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center at night, carrying the ChinaSat-10R communications satellite. The rocket's engines produce a bright orange and yellow flame, illuminating the surrounding launch infrastructure and casting a glow on the smoke and support structures. Tall transmission towers and trees are visible in the foreground.

China launches ChinaSat-10R communications satellite from Xichang

by Andrew Jones February 22, 2025February 22, 2025

Nighttime rocket launch of China's TJS-14 satellite aboard a Long March 3B vehicle from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, with bright flames and smoke illuminating the dark sky, January 23, 2025.

China launches classified TJS-14 satellite towards geostationary belt

by Andrew Jones January 23, 2025January 23, 2025

Nighttime launch of the Long March 3B rocket carrying the Shijian-25 satellite, illuminating the surroundings at Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

China launches Shijian-25 satellite to test on-orbit refueling and mission extension technologies

by Andrew Jones January 6, 2025January 6, 2025