China launches telecom satellite
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-09-13 06:37
China launched a new telecommunications satellite, Zhongxing-22A, with a Long
March-3A rocket carrier, at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, at 00:02 on
Wednesday.
Twenty-five minutes later, the Xi'an Satellite Monitoring and Controling
Center reported that Zhongxing-22A successfully entered onto the preset orbit,
at a perigee of 207 kilometers and an apogee of 42,000 kilometers.
Zhongxing-22A, an earth-synchronous telecommunications satellite is designed
by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Technology
Group Company.
The satellite has been designed to work for eight years, for the owner -- the
China Telecommunication Broadcast Satellite Company under the China
Telecommunications Satellite Group Company.
It has been the 10th successful launch in succession of the Long March-3A and
the 91st launch of the Long March rocket carriers.
Since October,1996, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center has succeeded in 18
successive launches, and it is also the country's 49th successful space launch
in the running.
According to some experts, once the satellite shifts its track, it will be
fixed above the Equator, at 98 degrees east longitude, under the guidance of the
Xi'an center and ocean-going space measuring vessels. Afterwards, it will be
handed over to the owner.
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