NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Partial Failure

ChinaSat-5

Launch Time
Tue Nov 29, 1994 17:02 UTC

Satellite failed to reach the operational orbit due to a propellant leak in GTO.

Rocket

Long March 3A
Image Credit: CASC
CAC
Status: Retired
Price: $69.7 million
Liftoff Thrust: 2,962 kN
Payload to LEO: 8,500 kg
Payload to GTO: 2,600 kg
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 52.52 m
Fairing Diameter: 3.35 m
Fairing Height: 8.89 m

Mission Details

ChinaSat-5

The DFH-3 satellite is a medium-capacity geostationary communications satellite based on the DFH-3 Bus (three-axis-stabilized telecommunications satellite platform). The 2200 kg satellite carries 24 C-band transponders, providing six television channels and 18 communications transmission channels. It has a power supply of 2 kW and a design life of 8 years.

On 29 November, DFH-3 1 was launched, entering GTO precisely as planned. Unfortunately, however, the apogee kick stage malfunctioned, causing Chinese officials to use the spacecraft's propulsion system to lift the vehicle into a sub-geosynchronous orbit where the spacecraft was declared lost.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 2,200.0 kg
Geostationary Transfer Orbit

Location

LC-2, Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China

Stats

1994

83rd orbital launch attempt

Long March 3

11th mission
3rd mission of 1994