 Illustration of ZX 15A | |
| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | China Satellite Communications |
| COSPAR ID | 2012-067A |
| SATCATno. | 39017 |
| Website | english |
| 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 (2012-11-27)[2] |
| Rocket | Long March 3B/E[3] |
| Launch site | XichangLA-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. |
TheChinaSat 12 (Chinese:中星12号;pinyin:Zhōngxīng 12)[4][5][3][6] communications satellite is wholly owned byChina Satellite Communications, with part of its communications payload leased or rented bySupremeSAT, aSri Lankan company, to be marketed to potential users asSupremeSAT-I.[7] 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.[8]
ChinaSat 12 was also known asApstar 7B (as a backup ofApstar 7), but acquired by China Satellite Communications from its subsidiaryAPT Satellite Holdings in 2010.[9] However, APT Satellite Holdings was contracted by its parent company as the operator of ChinaSat 12.[9]
Following launch on 27 November 2012,[10] 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° East.[citation needed]
The satellite was built byThales Alenia Space and has a designed life of 15 years.
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