Author Topic: Zhongxing-6C (ChinaSat-6C), CZ-3B/G2 - XSLC - March 9, 2019 (16:28 UTC) (Read 19462 times)

Galactic Penguin SST · « **on:** 09/20/2017 01:47 am »

Well with the BDS launch being ruled out for the next launch out of Xichang (which, per people now selling launch day post covers, is indeed coming soon), it seems that the payload on board might be ChinaSat-6C instead, though even those people on Chinese forums can only speculate.

Edit: This has been busted after the appearance of an LM-2C at the pad. Let see if this will be launched in the 4th quarter......

Satori · « **Reply #1 on:** 02/06/2018 06:53 pm »

Still no news about ZX-6C?

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #2 on:** 02/06/2018 07:00 pm »

Quote from: Satori on 02/06/2018 06:53 pm

Still no news about ZX-6C?

nope.

Satori · « **Reply #3 on:** 05/12/2018 01:10 pm »

Does anyone knows what happened to this satellite?

limen4 · « **Reply #4 on:** 05/12/2018 05:15 pm »

Quote from: Satori on 05/12/2018 01:10 pm

Does anyone knows what happened to this satellite?

In the January 2018 issue of "China Aerospace" an article was published which was saying that Chinasat-6C is (still) under construction together with Chinasat-18 and APStar 5C, 6C and 6D (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/2pA9SPbt9nM9gv2x-PEGdQ). It seems to be the most recent publication concerning 6C. Also the Chinasat webpage is still refering to Chinasat-6C but there was no site update since 2015.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #5 on:** 05/24/2018 02:33 am »

Rumors around seems to put this launch around early July, although this is not confirmed via any means. $:-\$

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #6 on:** 06/11/2018 08:00 pm »

Delayed to 2019? Cross-post:

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 06/09/2018 03:26 am

Note that it seems that while there is indeed a launch from Xichang on June 20 - the nature of the payload is now in doubt. Per two different insiders:
1. CAST makes the payloads for at least the next few launches out of Xichang.
2. The next launch from there isn't a 3rd generation BDS satellite launch nor a CZ-3B launch.

The obvious assumption is that the next might be launching BDS 2-I7 on a CZ-3A (CALT reported on May 31 that they are shipping a CZ-3A & CZ-3B in early June) - except that the launch process cycle would then seems to be too tight (<=19 days when the usual process is at least 24). So who knows, there might be something not yet known flying on June 20......

Another report: Contradictory to earlier reports, ChinaSat 6C isn't launching till next year.

EDIT: Local tour operators claim that this is a BDS launch from pad 3. Maybe the launch is for BDS-2 G8 (?) on a CZ-3C?

Satori · « **Reply #7 on:** 02/13/2019 04:03 pm »

According to our friends 9ifly Chinese space forum, ZX-6C will be launched in March 2019.

input~2 · « **Reply #8 on:** 02/13/2019 09:01 pm »

Expected Chinasat-6C orbital position (i.e.130°E) is presently devoted to military communication satellites

Satori · « **Reply #9 on:** 02/14/2019 04:27 pm »

Launch possibly on March 9.

input~2 · « **Reply #10 on:** 02/24/2019 07:03 am »

According to the vice-president of China Satcom, Chinasat-6C is a"traditional satellite", which could mean a 25 C band transponders payload, as mentionned long ago on China Satcom webpage and not a high throughput Ka band satellite.

Source: https://spacenews.com/china-satcoms-leo-hts-projects-driven-by-desire-not-to-fall-behind-foreign-counterparts/

Olaf · « **Reply #11 on:** 02/24/2019 05:11 pm »

According to http://www.spaceflightfans.cn/event/long-march-3b-rocket-launch-zhongxing-6c-communication-satellite-or-chinasat-6c-communication-satellite?instance_id=2337 the launch could be at March, 10 around 01.00 LT. This should be March, 9 17.00 UTC.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #12 on:** 03/06/2019 05:02 pm »

Any indication yet which launch complex will be used?

If LC2, is ZX-6C perhaps using the CZ-3B that was erected before Lunar New Year for a hypothesized BD-3 G2Q mission?
(See Chinese launch schedule thread starting here)

If LC3, perhaps the CZ-3B imaged in late January is still stacked on LC2?

input~2 · « **Reply #13 on:** 03/06/2019 07:42 pm »

Looks like LC-3
(Picture from China Aerospace Weibo page via 9ifly)

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #14 on:** 03/06/2019 09:19 pm »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 03/06/2019 05:02 pm

Any indication yet which launch complex will be used?

If LC2, is ZX-6C perhaps using the CZ-3B that was erected before Lunar New Year for a hypothesized BD-3 G2Q mission?
(See Chinese launch schedule thread starting here)

If LC3, perhaps the CZ-3B imaged in late January is still stacked on LC2?

AFAIU: There are rockets on both pads.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #15 on:** 03/07/2019 02:50 am »

A0741/19 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY: N272159E1083650-N273125E1074313-N271528E1073946-N270603E1083315 BACK TO START. ALL ACFT ARE FORBIDDEN TO FLY INTO THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA, ACFT SHALL AVOID THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA BY ATC. GND - UNL, 09 MAR 16:21 2019 UNTIL 09 MAR 17:46 2019. CREATED: 07 MAR 01:07 2019 A0742/19 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY: N260808E1142921-N261444E1140013-N255857E1135553-N255223E1142456 BACK TO START. ALL ACFT ARE FORBIDDEN TO FLY INTO THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA, ACFT SHALL AVOID THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA BY ATC. GND - UNL, 09 MAR 16:22 2019 UNTIL 09 MAR 17:51 2019. CREATED: 07 MAR 01:09 2019

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #16 on:** 03/07/2019 02:52 am »

BTW this launch will be the 300th rocket with the name "Long March".

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #17 on:** 03/07/2019 02:57 am »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 03/07/2019 02:50 am

[Two NOTAMs]

Typical drop zones for Xichang CZ-3B launches bound for GTO?

input~2 · « **Reply #18 on:** 03/07/2019 06:52 am »

PM3 · « **Reply #19 on:** 03/07/2019 11:31 am »

Quote from: Olaf on 02/24/2019 05:11 pm

According to http://www.spaceflightfans.cn/event/long-march-3b-rocket-launch-zhongxing-6c-communication-satellite-or-chinasat-6c-communication-satellite?instance_id=2337 the launch could be at March, 10 around 01.00 LT. This should be March, 9 17.00 UTC.

Now 00:30 local / 16:30 UTC @ spaceflightfans.cn and rocketlaunch.live.