Apstar 7

Last updated
Apstar 7
Mission type Communication
Operator APT Satellite
COSPAR ID 2012-013A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 38107
Website www.apstar.com/en/apstar-fleet/apstar-7/
Mission duration15 years [1]
Spacecraft properties
Bus Spacebus-4000C2
Manufacturer Thales Alenia Space
Launch mass5,054 kilograms (11,142 lb) [1]
Start of mission
Launch date31 March 2012, 10:27 (2012-03-31UTC10:27Z) UTC
Rocket Chang Zheng 3B/E
Launch site Xichang LC-2
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Longitude76.5° East [1]
Perigee altitude 35,784 kilometres (22,235 mi)
Apogee altitude 35,802 kilometres (22,246 mi)
Inclination 0.04 degrees
Period 23.93 hours
Epoch 19 December 2013, 16:37:15 UTC [2]
 

Apstar-7 is a Chinese communications satellite which is operated by APT Satellite as part of the Apstar system. It was launched in 2012 as a replacement for the Apstar 2R satellite launched in 1997. [3]

Contents

Apstar-7 was constructed by Thales Alenia Space, and is based on the Spacebus-4000C2 satellite bus. The satellite had a mass at launch of 5,054 kilograms (11,142 lb), and is expected to operate for at least 15 years. [1] It is positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 76.5 degrees East, and carries 56 transponders with an operating power of 8.4 kilowatts; [1] 28 operating in the C band and providing services to Asia, Africa, eastern and central Europe and Australia and the other 28 operating in the Ku band, covering Africa, the Middle East, China, and Taiwan. [4] The satellite's solar arrays generate 11.4 kilowatts of power.

Apstar-7 was launched by a Long March 3B/E carrier rocket, flying from Launch Complex 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. Liftoff took place at 10:27 UTC on 31 March 2012, with the rocket placing the satellite into a supersynchronous transfer orbit. [5]

Operational history

Thales Alenia Space built Apstar-7 as an ITAR-free satellite, containing no restricted American components. [6] The United States prohibits the export of satellite components when a Chinese launcher will be used. Ironically, the US Department of Defense leased bandwidth on Apstar-7 in May 2012 to improve communications with the U.S. Africa Command. [7] In 2013, Thales Alenia was forced to discontinue its ITAR-free satellite line after US supplier Aeroflex admitted that it had sold them ITAR-controlled components. [8]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Krebs, Gunter. "APStar 7, 7B". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "APSTAR 7 Satellite details 2012-013A NORAD 38107". N2YO. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  3. ↑ Barbosa, Rui C. (31 March 2012). "Chinese Long March 3B/E launches Apstar-7". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "APSTAR-7 system characteristics". APT Satellite Holdings. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  5. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan (12 April 2012). "Issue 656". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  6. ↑ Clark, Stephen (31 March 2012). "Chinese rocket lifts off with communications satellite". Spaceflight Now.
  7. ↑ Capaccio, Tony (29 April 2013). "Pentagon Using China Satellite for U.S.-Africa Command". Bloomberg. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  8. ↑ Ferster, Warren (5 September 2013). "U.S. Satellite Component Maker Fined $8 Million for ITAR Violations". SpaceNews.

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