APSTAR-7 Satellite Goes into Operation
SOURCE: China Space News
UPDATED: 2012-05-18
BEIJING, May 15 (China Space News) — Commercial operations of APSTAR-7 started May 15, a month and a half after the satellite was thrust into space, according to a statement released by Thales Alenia Space and APT Satellite Company Limited.
It was carried into space aboard a Long March-3B which lifted off March 31, and on that same day APSTAR-7 entered its preset orbit. The satellite was then positioned into a geostationary orbit 12 days later. Its equipment has passed all tests and has been functioning in accordance with the design. After the in-orbit tests, it was placed at 76.5° East Longitude orbital position.
Produced by Thales Alenia Space for Hong Kong-based APT Satellite Company Limited, a subsidiary of China Aerospace and Science Technology Corporation, APSTAR 7 is based on Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus 4000 platform and equipped with 28 C-band and 28 Ku-band active transponders.
It will replace APSTAR-2R and provide broadcasting and communications services to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Europe.
It was carried into space aboard a Long March-3B which lifted off March 31, and on that same day APSTAR-7 entered its preset orbit. The satellite was then positioned into a geostationary orbit 12 days later. Its equipment has passed all tests and has been functioning in accordance with the design. After the in-orbit tests, it was placed at 76.5° East Longitude orbital position.
Produced by Thales Alenia Space for Hong Kong-based APT Satellite Company Limited, a subsidiary of China Aerospace and Science Technology Corporation, APSTAR 7 is based on Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus 4000 platform and equipped with 28 C-band and 28 Ku-band active transponders.
It will replace APSTAR-2R and provide broadcasting and communications services to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Europe.