China launched the Shijian-21 satellite from Xichang on October 23, 2021 with the stated aim of testing space debris mitigation technologies.
- A Long March 3B lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, southwest China, sending Shijian-21 into geosynchronous transfer orbit.
- Shijian satellites are broadly technology demonstration satellites. Shijian-17, launched by the first Long March 5 heavy-lift rocket in 2016, is an experimental satellite for communication and broadcast services. It also carried out rendezvous and proximity operations in geostationary orbit.
