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
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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
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