NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

ChinaSat-6

Launch Time
Sun May 11, 1997 16:17 UTC

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-6

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 1994, 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.

The second DFH-3 satellite, the satellite in this launch, was launched on 12 May 1997 and got to its orbital slot thereafter. It has experienced malfunctions in attitude stabilisation which resulted in excessive fuel consumption that may reduce its operational life. It is currently operating normally.

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

Location

LC-2, Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China

Stats

1997

22nd orbital launch attempt

Long March 3

15th mission
1st mission of 1997
10th successful mission
1st consecutive successful mission