Source: The People's Daily  Date: 2020/07/09

APSTAR-6D Communications Satellite was launched at 8:11 pm on July 9th, 2020 (Beijing time) by the LM-3B launch vehicle from Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) at Sichuan Province of China. The satellite entered into the predetermined orbit successfully.

APSTAR-6D is a High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). It is the first satellite based on DFH-4 Enhanced (DFH-4E) satellite platform. APSTAR-6D has 90 Ku-band user beams and 8 Ka-band gateway beams on board with 5,550 kg lift-off mass. It is the first commercial Ku/Ka band high-throughput broadband communications satellite carrying the biggest payload designed and developed by CAST.

APSTAR-6D satellite provides both fixed and mobile high throughput broadband communication services for China and the Asia-Pacific region, with coverage from the East Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific.

APSTAR-6D is the 12th communications satellite to be in-orbit delivered by China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), a subsidiary of CASC. CGWIC has performed twelve in-orbit delivery communications satellite programs to its domestic and international customers by far, and has exported its communications satellite system to multiple countries and regions including Nigeria, Venezuela, Pakistan, Bolivia, Hong Kong SAR, Laos, Belarus, and Algeria.

The LM-3B launch vehicle is developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), a subsidiary of CASC, with mature technologies. The launch mission is the 69th flight of LM-3B launch vehicles, the 113th of LM-3A Series and the 339th of Long March family.

Date:2020-07-09