On June 29, 2016, at 03:21 the “Long March –4BD” (“Changzheng-4B”) rocket-carrier was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, Gansu Province, the northwest of China. The rocket orbited the “Shijian-16” satellite. Xinhua reported the “Shijian-16” will conduct “special environment detection and technological experiments” during its mission. Western analysts believe the Shijian-16 satellites probably intercept electronic communications for analysis by Chinese intelligence agencies.