China launches classified Shijan-26 satellite with Long March 4B rocket

China carried out its ninth launch of the month early Thursday, sending the secretive Shijian-26 spacecraft into orbit. A Long March 4B rocket lifted off at 12:12 a.m. Eastern (0412 UTC) May 29 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China. Insulation tiles fell away from the rocket’s payload fairing as it climbed into a cloudy sky. The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), which provided the Long March 4B for the mission, declared success of the launch within an hour of liftoff. More

(Source: SpaceNews - May 30)