China launches commercial communications satellite
Posted: Tue, Apr 12, 2005, 7:22 PM ET (2322 GMT)
A Chinese Long March booster launched a Western-built commercial communications satellite late Tuesday. The Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 8:00 am EDT (1200 GMT, 8 pm Beijing time) Tuesday and successfully placed the APStar 6 communications satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The 4,600-kg satellite, an Alcatel Spacebus 4000 C1, carries 38 C-band and 12 Ku-band transponders and will be located in GEO at 134 degrees east. The satellite will be used by APT Satellite Holdings to provide communications services to much of the Asia-Pacific region; the company noted that the Ku-band payload, equipped with anti-jamming technologies, will primarily be used for China. The launch was the first to carry a Western-built payload since the United States enacted export control restrictions on satellite technology destined for China. To get around those restrictions, Alcatel replaced components usually supplied by US manufacturers with alternatives from non-US companies.
A Chinese Long March booster launched a Western-built commercial communications satellite late Tuesday. The Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 8:00 am EDT (1200 GMT, 8 pm Beijing time) Tuesday and successfully placed the APStar 6 communications satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The 4,600-kg satellite, an Alcatel Spacebus 4000 C1, carries 38 C-band and 12 Ku-band transponders and will be located in GEO at 134 degrees east. The satellite will be used by APT Satellite Holdings to provide communications services to much of the Asia-Pacific region; the company noted that the Ku-band payload, equipped with anti-jamming technologies, will primarily be used for China. The launch was the first to carry a Western-built payload since the United States enacted export control restrictions on satellite technology destined for China. To get around those restrictions, Alcatel replaced components usually supplied by US manufacturers with alternatives from non-US companies.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, February 18
Space Force needs 10,000 more Guardians, officials tell Senate
Huntsville Times — 5:40 am ET (1040 GMT) SpaceX, Not Tesla, Will Make Musk A Trillionaire
Forbes.com — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) Space Force needs to double in size, top enlisted leader says
FederalNewsRadio.com — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) GMV and the Spanish Air and Space Force Sign Agreement to Strengthen National Space Surveillance Capabilities
Space and Defense — 5:36 am ET (1036 GMT) Virgin Galactic Announces Date of Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results and Conference Call
Virgin Galactic — 5:35 am ET (1035 GMT) |
