Zhongxing 12
Illustration of ZX 15A | |
Mission type | Communication |
---|---|
Operator | China Satcom |
Mission duration | 15 years |
Spacecraft properties | |
Bus | Spacebus-4000C2[1] |
Manufacturer | Thales Alenia Space |
Launch mass | 5,054 kilograms (11,142 lb) |
Power | 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 27 November 2012[2] |
Rocket | Chang Zheng 3B/E[3] |
Launch site | Xichang LA-2 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Geostationary |
Longitude | 87.5° East |
Transponders | |
Band |
28 C-band 28 Ku-band |
Coverage area |
China Sri Lanka East Asia South Asia Middle East Africa Australia China sea area the Indian Ocean region. |
Now called Zhongxing 15A (ZX 15A), or ChinaSat-15A, the former Zhongxing 12[3][4] communications satellite is wholly owned by China Satcom, with part of its communications payload leased or rented by SupremeSAT, a Sri Lankan company to be marketed to potential users as SupremeSAT-I.[5] Once operational, it will provide communications services for the China, Sri Lanka, East Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Africa, Australia and China sea area, the Indian Ocean region.[6]
Orbit
Following launch on 27 November 2012, the satellite was placed into geosynchronous orbit and located at 51.5° East while being tested. On April 19, 2013, it started to move towards its operational location at 87.5°[7] East. At the same time, it was renamed Chinasat 15A to reflect its future operation as a replacement for Chinasat 5A, the current incumbent of the slot.
The satellite was built by Thales Alenia Space and has a designed life of 15 years.
Gallery
- Diagram of the Long March 3B, showing its outboard liquid rocket boosters.
- The launch of a Long March 3B (similar to CZ-3B/E (Chang Zheng-3B/E))
References
- ↑ http://space.skyrocket.de
- ↑ http://www.satlaunch.net
- 1 2 http://www.satbeams.com
- ↑ Chinasat-12 ex-Apstar 7b footprints
- ↑ Supreme Group pioneers Sri Lanka’s space industry
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "ZX 12 (ChinaSat 12, SupremeSat 1)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ↑ 2012 - Launches to Orbit and Beyond