NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

ChinaStar 1

Launch Time
Sat May 30, 1998 10:00 UTC

Rocket

Long March 3B
Image Credit: CASC
CAC
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 5,924 kN
Payload to LEO: 11,500 kg
Payload to GTO: 5,100 kg
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 4
Rocket Height: 54.84 m
Fairing Diameter: 4.0 m
Fairing Height: 9.56 m

Mission Details

ChinaStar 1

The Zhongwei 1 (Chinastar 1) satellite, an A2100A class comsat built by Lockheed Martin for the China Orient Telecommunications Satellite Co., part of the Chinese telecoms ministry. Zhongwei 1 will serve China, India, Korea, and Southeast Asia with 18 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders. It was orbited on a CZ-3B launch vehicle using a supersynchronous transfer orbit.

In 2010, the satellite was taken over by China Satcom and renamed ZX 5A (ChinaSat 5A). In 2013, APT and China Satcom struck an agreement under which APT would lease the satellite to prepare the market for the arrival of APStar 9 and move it to 142° east, where it has been renamed APStar 9A.

The satellite was retired in June 2018 and moved to a graveyard orbit.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 2,984.0 kg
Geostationary Transfer Orbit

Location

LC-2, Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China

Stats

1998

34th orbital launch attempt

Long March 3

19th mission
1st mission of 1998
14th successful mission
5th consecutive successful mission