Successful Launch of APSTAR-6D Onboard A LM-3B

At 20:11 Beijing time on July 9,the APSTAR-6D satellite took off on a LM-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center and finally entered its preset orbit at 134.5°E.The launch was a complete success.

APSTAR-6D was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology based on the DFH-4E platform,with a Launch mass of 5,550 kg and a design life span of 15 years.As the first satellite in the Ku-band high-throughput broadband satellite communications system,APSTAR-6D is equipped with an electric propulsion system for north/south station-keeping during its lifecycle.

The satellite has a total communication capacity of 50 Gbps.APSTAR-6D will provide high-quality,efficient and economical satellite broadband communications services for customers in the Asia-Pacific region,meeting their demands for maritime communications,aviation airborne communication,land vehicles communications and fixed satellite broadband Internet access.

The LM-3B launch vehicle was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.It was optimized according to the requirement for the commercial launch mission,i.e.,the openend fairing working place was increased to 2 to improve task adaptability; a unit for fault recognition and recurrence was added for realizing malfunction detection during flight.

This was the 339th flight of the Long March series launch vehicle.(LIU Yan,et al/China Space News)

The LM-3B carrier rocket is being hoistedPhoto:CGWIC