The ChinaSat 12 (Chinese: 中星12号; pinyin: Zhōngxīng 12)[4][5][3][6] communications satellite is wholly owned by China Satellite Communications, with part of its communications payload leased or rented by SupremeSAT, a Sri Lankan company, to be marketed to potential users as SupremeSAT-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
Illustration of ZX 15A
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorChina Satellite Communications
COSPAR ID2012-067A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.39017Edit this on Wikidata
Websiteenglish.csat.spacechina.com/n931903/c932043/content.html
Mission duration15 years
Spacecraft properties
BusSpacebus-4000C2[1]
ManufacturerThales Alenia Space
Launch mass5,054 kilograms (11,142 lb)
Power2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Start of mission
Launch date27 November 2012 (2012-11-27)[2]
RocketLong March 3B/E[3]
Launch siteXichang LA-2
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude87.5° East
Transponders
Band28 C-band
28 Ku-band
Coverage areaChina
Sri Lanka
East Asia
South Asia
Middle East
Africa
Australia
China sea area
the Indian Ocean region.

ChinaSat 12 was also known as Apstar 7B (as a backup of Apstar 7), but acquired by China Satellite Communications from its subsidiary APT Satellite Holdings in 2010.[9] However, APT Satellite Holdings was contracted by its parent company as the operator of ChinaSat 12.[9]

Orbit

edit

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 by Thales Alenia Space and has a designed life of 15 years.

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ http://space.skyrocket.de
  2. ^ "Chinasat 12 launch on November 22". Archived from the original on 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  3. ^ a b http://www.satbeams.com
  4. ^ "中星12号" (in Chinese). China Satellite Communications. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  5. ^ "ChinaSat 12" (in Chinese). China Satellite Communications. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Chinasat-12 ex-Apstar 7b footprints". Archived from the original on 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  7. ^ Supreme Group pioneers Sri Lanka’s space industry
  8. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "ZX 12 (ChinaSat 12, SupremeSat 1)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  9. ^ a b "關連交易" (PDF) (Press release) (in Chinese). APT Satellite Holdings. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  10. ^ 2012 - Launches to Orbit and Beyond