ChinaSat 9 (Chinese: 中星9号; pinyin: Zhōngxīng Jiǔhào),[2] also known as ZX-9, is a Chinese communications satellite.
| Names | ZX-9 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corporation |
| COSPAR ID | 2008-028A |
| SATCAT no. | 33051 |
| Mission duration | 15 years (planned) 15 years, 11 months, 14 days (23 May 2024) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | Spacebus 4000C2 |
| Manufacturer | Thales Alenia Space |
| Launch mass | 4,500 kg (9,900 lb)[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 9 June 2008, 12:15:04 UTC |
| Rocket | Long March 3B |
| Launch site | Xichang, LA-2 |
| Contractor | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 92.2° East |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 22 Ku-band transponders |
Launch
It was launched from pad 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre on 9 June 2008, at 12:15:04 UTC, by a Long March 3B launch vehicle.[3] It is based on the Spacebus 4000C2 satellite bus, and was constructed in France by Thales Alenia Space in its Cannes Mandelieu Space Center.[4] It is one of several ChinaSat spacecraft in orbit.
Mission
It was launched to act as a relay satellite for the 2008 Olympic Games, and will subsequently be used for general communications. Equipped with 22 Ku-band transponders, it was placed in geosynchronous orbit at a longitude of 92.2° East.[3]
Wikinews has related news:
