APStar-6D - CZ-3B/G2 - XSLC - July 9, 2020 (12:11 UTC)

[input~2]

Press release from the satellite operator:
https://www.apstar.com/en/news/successful-launch-of-apstar-6d-satellite/

[Liss]

First elset corresponds to a GTO 28.41°, 217x35790 km, 631.5 min.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Press release from the satellite operator:
https://www.apstar.com/en/news/successful-launch-of-apstar-6d-satellite/

That report is calling the rocket CZ-3B/E, which would make sense since the upper stage was reduced in dry mass by 50 kg.

"At 20:11 on the evening of July 9, APSTAR-6D satellite took off on the CZ-3B/E rocket at Xichang Satellite Launch Center. After half hour flight, APSTAR-6D separated from the rocket’s 3rd stage, completed the first deployment of the solar array, and entered into transfer orbit. In the following days, the satellite will conduct multiple orbit raises, solar array second deployment and antenna deployment. After completing the in-orbit test, it will commission service at the orbital slot of 134⁰E."

[Satori]

CZ-3B/E is not a new variant of the rocket and in fact is an old designation for the series.

CZ-3B/E was first introduced in 2007 and includes three variants: the CZ-3B/G2, CZ-3B/G3, and CZ-3B/YZ-1.

If you look into older articles about Chinese launches, this designation was already used.

At the moment there is no definite established relation between the 50 kg weight reduction on the third stage and the Palapa-N1 failure.

[russianhalo117]

CZ-3B/E is not a new variant of the rocket and in fact is an old designation for the series.

CZ-3B/E was first introduced in 2007 and includes three variants: the CZ-3B/G2, CZ-3B/G3, and CZ-3B/YZ-1.

If you look into older articles about Chinese launches, this designation was already used.

At the moment there is no definite established relation between the 50 kg weight reduction on the third stage and the Palapa-N1 failure.

CZ-3B/G4 (Upgrade Phase IV) previously mentioned with no debut date.
CZ-3B/G5 (Upgrade Phase V) previously mentioned, as final planned version before switch to next gen launcher families, with no debut date. Shown on Gunters website.

[Steven Pietrobon]

CZ-3B/E is not a new variant of the rocket and in fact is an old designation for the series.

CZ-3B/E was first introduced in 2007 and includes three variants: the CZ-3B/G2, CZ-3B/G3, and CZ-3B/YZ-1.

Thanks for the clarification. Here's a 2016 article that explains this.

https://chinaspacereport.wordpress.com/2016/07/26/calt-develops-new-cz-3b-variant-for-sso-missions/

So what should we call this enhanced version? CZ-3B/G4?

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/aj_fi/status/1281873550329159680

Debris from a Long March 3B which launched the APSTAR-6D communications satellite from Xichang on Thursday. Dangerous to be close to an engine that used toxic hypergolic propellants. Source: Guangming Daily/Weibo https://m.weibo.cn/status/JaItqv2i9

[otter]

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-12/09/c_139576870.htm

China's in-orbit communication satellite delivered to customer
2020-12-09 23:51:34

BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced Wednesday that it has completed the in-orbit delivery of the communication satellite "APSTAR-6D" to its customer.

China Great Wall Industry Corporation, a commercial satellite launch company under the CASC, delivered the satellite to Shenzhen-based APT Mobile SatCom Limited.

The satellite was launched by a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center on July 9. Both the satellite and the rocket were developed by subsidiary institutes of the CASC.

The APSTAR-6D is a part of China's first global high-throughput broadband satellite communication system. It aims to provide high-throughput broadband communication services for users across the Asia-Pacific region.

The results of in-orbit tests show that the function and performance of the satellite meet technical requirements, said the CASC.

The APSTAR-6D is the 12th communication satellite delivered by the China Great Wall Industry Corporation.