TJS-17

MilitaryGEOEquatorialGraveyardChina

TJS-17 is a military satellite, as listed in Jonathan McDowell's GCAT catalogue, with ownership listed as China in CelesTrak's catalogue, currently in a geostationary orbit about 35,905 km above the equator. It completes one orbit of Earth roughly every 1446 minutes at an inclination of 1.4°. It was launched in 2025. Track its live position and see when it passes over your location on azmth.

Orbital data

NORAD ID: 63524
COSPAR ID: 2025-073A
Type: Military
Orbit: GEO
Perigee (lowest): 35,905 km
Apogee (highest): 36,088 km
Inclination: 1.37°
Orbital period: 1446 min
Launch year: 2025
Owner (CelesTrak): China

Orbital data updated: 2026-10-15 · from CelesTrak, refreshed every 2 hours.

Who operates it

ChinaLIVEActive

Signals intelligence

GCAT lists it as Tongxin Jishu Shiyan 17.

Official description

“Communication Technology Test Satellite 17 is mainly used to verify multi-band, high-rate satellite communication technology.”

Xinhua, 11 Apr 2025

azmth's translation · Show original

通信技术试验卫星十七号主要用于开展多频段、高速率卫星通信技术验证。

“The satellite is mainly used to verify multi-band, high-rate satellite communication technology.”

China National Space Administration, 11 Apr 2025

azmth's translation · Show original

该卫星主要用于开展多频段、高速率卫星通信技术验证。

Independent assessment

GCAT classes it as a military satellite for signals intelligence and records it as active (17 Oct 2026).

Data: GCAT · CC BY 4.0 Class, mission and status adapted from GCAT by Jonathan McDowell, CC BY 4.0, data update 17 Oct 2026.

Military satellites, counted and explained →

About GEO orbit

Geostationary Orbit. Exactly 35,786 km above the equator. Satellites here orbit at the same rate Earth rotates, so they appear stationary in the sky. Used for TV, weather, and communications.