Posted: Sat, Oct 17, 2015, 6:23 PM ET (2223 GMT)
A Long March rocket placed a Chinese communications satellite into orbit early Saturday. The Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 12:16 pm EDT Friday (1616 GMT Fridat, 12:16 am Beijing time Saturday) and placed the Apstar-9 communications satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit. The satellite, built by China Academy of Space Technology for Hong Kong-based APT Satellite Technology, will operate from 142 degrees east in GEO. The 5,200-kilogram satellite carries a payload of C- and Ku-band transponders, and will replace the existing Apstar-9A satellite.
