Author Topic: APStar 6E - CZ-2C - Xichang - January 12, 2023 (18:10 UTC) (Read 24448 times)

Galactic Penguin SST · « **on:** 11/13/2020 07:42 am »

https://spacenews.com/apt-satellite-orders-new-small-hts-satellite-from-chinas-cgwic/

I'm not sure why would some company order a small 1.3 tonnes GEO comsat these days (on reflection it fully uses electrical propulsion so maybe it's actually more Northrop Grumman Star-3 bus sized), I wonder if it's a pathfinder satellite for multi-orbital uses?

Note that this new "DFH-3E" bus can also be used for LEO comsats.

mikezang · « **Reply #1 on:** 01/07/2023 06:57 am »

See post #16 on the Chinese NOTAMs thread.

mikezang · « **Reply #2 on:** 01/07/2023 08:55 am »

someone said it might be CZ-2C with Yuanzheng-1, not CZ-3B....

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #3 on:** 01/07/2023 09:56 am »

Quote from: mikezang on 01/07/2023 08:55 am

someone said it might be CZ-2C with Yuanzheng-1, not CZ-3B....

That’s a weird one if true. Maybe APStar-6E or something similar previously not known?

Liss · « **Reply #4 on:** 01/07/2023 06:05 pm »

Quote from: mikezang on 01/07/2023 08:55 am

someone said it might be CZ-2C with Yuanzheng-1, not CZ-3B....

NOTAM'ed areas do not look as CZ-3B. I'd say CZ-2C has a good probability.

Timothytyy · « **Reply #5 on:** 01/09/2023 09:43 am »

https://twitter.com/CNSpaceflight/status/1612397020928704513

Quote

Three more launches from China scheduled for this week. All seem Long March 2D to me
Jiuquan: ~07:00UTC on January 13
Xichang: ~18:15UTC on January 13 (Apstar-6E?)
Taiyuan: ~03:15UTC on January 15 (Jilin-1?)

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #6 on:** 01/10/2023 05:44 am »

What's the reference for Yatai 6E payload in the thread title?

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #7 on:** 01/10/2023 05:50 am »

Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 01/10/2023 05:44 am

What's the reference for Yatai 6E payload in the thread title?

I’ve removed the name (which is = APStar-6E as I have mentioned a few posts above) since I don’t think there are any evidences that it’s really on board, only an “educated” guess.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #8 on:** 01/10/2023 08:17 am »

BTW per NOTAMs the launch has been moved up by one day to Jan. 12

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #9 on:** 01/12/2023 03:59 pm »

https://twitter.com/CNSpaceflight/status/1613577941623123968

I have poked around insider sources on Chinese social media and they all seems to think it's really the launch of APStar 6E, so I'm going to take it as the tentative identity of payload.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #10 on:** 01/12/2023 04:24 pm »

twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/1613582569404239872

Quote

This small GEO communication satellite will be launched by Long March 2C (or 2D?) to LEO & then raised to higher orbit by its detachable kick stage (2). After the stage separation, Apstar-6E will rely on its electric propulsion system to reach its final parking position in GEO

https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/1613586108163723264

Quote

DFH-3E is built by CAST in demands of low-cost GEO communications satellites from developing countries. This ~1.8-tonnes satellite is equipped with all-electric propulsion system and has a designed life of ~15 years.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #11 on:** 01/12/2023 05:17 pm »

Liftoff confirmed per local reports on Weibo.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #12 on:** 01/12/2023 05:51 pm »

Note that the “transfer stage” is counted towards the payload, with the total mass of satellite + transfer stage at 4.3 tonnes.

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4857278191371659

https://twitter.com/cosmic_penguin/status/1613606499317878789

Liss · « **Reply #13 on:** 01/12/2023 06:03 pm »

Officially:

https://weibo.com/5386897742/Mo20mBsOV

Quote

中国航天科技集团China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation我国成功发射亚太6e卫星#【凌晨点火！长二丙成功发射亚太6E卫星】1月13日2时10分，长征二号丙运载火箭在西昌卫星发射中心点火起飞，成功将亚太6E卫星送入预定轨道，发射任务圆满成功。亚太6E卫星将为东南亚地区提供高速便捷的高通量宽带通信服务，有效填补东南亚的宽带通信市场空白。本次发射使用的火箭、卫星均由我航研制，这是长征系列运载火箭的第460次发射。（顾航瑜摄）#Our country successfully launched the Asia-Pacific 6e satellite# [Ignition in the early morning! Chang 2 C successfully launched the APSTAR 6E satellite] At 2:10 on January 13, the Long March 2C carrier rocket ignited and took off at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, successfully sending the APSTAR 6E satellite into the predetermined orbit, and the launch mission was a complete success. APSTAR 6E satellite will provide high-speed and convenient high-throughput broadband communication services for Southeast Asia, effectively filling the gap in the broadband communication market in Southeast Asia. The rockets and satellites used in this launch were all developed by China Airlines. This is the 460th launch of the Long March series of launch vehicles. (Photo by Gu Hangyu)