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Chinastar

Spacecraft · China

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Zhongxing and Zhongwei (Chinastar) communications satellites were orbited by China Orient Telecommunications Satellite Company, part of the Chinese telecommunications ministry. A combination of indigenous and foreign satellites are used. Zhongxing 1 to 4 were apparently some of the earlier DFH-2 and DFH-3 satellites (although more than four reached geosynchronous orbit). Zhongxing 5 was the former Spacenet 1.

Related

Country
China
Spacecraft
HS 376, DFH-3, AS 2100
Launch Sites
Xichang

Chronology

2 events

1994 February 8

08:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Complex: Xichang LC2. LV Family: CZ. Launch Vehicle: Chang Zheng 3A.
  • KF-1 - . Payload: Kua Fu 1 / DFH-3 mockup. Mass: 2,200 kg (4,800 lb). Nation: China. Agency: CASC. Program: Chinastar. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: DFH-3. Decay Date: 2002-02-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 23009 . COSPAR: 1994-010B. Apogee: 36,046 km (22,397 mi). Perigee: 178 km (110 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 635.69 min. Mass model of DFH-3 satellite..

1998 May 30

10:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Complex: Xichang LC2. LV Family: CZ. Launch Vehicle: Chang Zheng 3B.
  • Zhongwei 1 - . Payload: A2100A. Mass: 2,984 kg (6,578 lb). Nation: China. Agency: Chinasat. Manufacturer: Lockheed. Program: Chinastar. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: AS 2100. USAF Sat Cat: 25354 . COSPAR: 1998-033A. Apogee: 35,798 km (22,243 mi). Perigee: 35,777 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.

    Also known as Chinastar 1; comsat to serve China, India, Korea and Southeast Asia with 18 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders. Operated by the China Orient Telecommunications Satellite Company, part of the Chinese telecommunications ministry. Zhongwei 1 and the CZ-3B's final liquid hydrogen upper stage were placed in an initial supersynchronous 216 x 85,035 km x 24.4 deg transfer orbit. Geostationary at 87.6 degrees E. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 87 deg E in 1998-1999 As of 6 September 2001 located at 87.49 deg E drifting at 0.013 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 87.64E drifting at 0.010W degrees per day.