Views: 208 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2024-07-17 Origin: Site
On the 15th, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced that Asia-Pacific 6E, the first of its kind in our country, had successfully navigated through both the satellite's in-orbit technical acceptance review and the final technical evaluation of the ground system in Hong Kong. This milestone signifies the successful completion of its orbital testing phase and the official launch of its operational life.
The Asia-Pacific 6E satellite, a pioneering endeavor by CASC's Fifth Academy, is built upon the Dongfanghong-3E satellite platform and serves as its inaugural satellite. Boasting 25 Ku-band user beams and 3 Ka-band communication gateway beams, the satellite offers a communication capacity of approximately 30Gbps and is designed for a long-lasting orbital lifespan of 15 years.
Experts at CASC emphasize that the operational readiness of Asia-Pacific 6E holds profound significance. It underscores our nation's progress in achieving high-capacity satellite platforms with cost-efficiency, bolstering the international competitiveness of our communication satellite infrastructure. Furthermore, it demonstrates the satellite's capability for fully autonomous orbital upgrades and sustained independent operations, thereby enhancing the intelligent autonomy of our satellite platforms.
The historic launch of Asia-Pacific 6E, integrated with an independent propulsion module, took place on January 13, 2023, at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, propelled by the Long March 2C carrier rocket developed by CASC's First Academy.
On January 23, 2023, a significant milestone was achieved as the Asia-Pacific 6E satellite successfully detached from its launch vehicle and embarked on an autonomous journey through space. Utilizing its advanced Hall and ion electric propulsion systems, the satellite navigated independently, reaching the geosynchronous orbit exactly 16 months later, on June 10, 2024, where it stabilized in its designated test orbit. This remarkable feat marked the Asia-Pacific 6E as the pioneer among communication satellites globally, demonstrating a fully autonomous transfer from low earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit.
The subsequent in-orbit testing phase commenced smoothly upon reaching the synchronous orbit, culminating in the successful completion of the first phase on July 9. Following this, the satellite was repositioned to its operational orbit at 134 degrees east longitude, where it joined forces with the trio of Asia-Pacific 6C/6D satellites. By July 15, every stipulated test item outlined for the in-orbit evaluation had been meticulously executed and verified. The satellite's payload demonstrated impeccable performance, mirroring the outcomes of ground-based tests and fulfilling both contractual specifications and operational demands in space. Furthermore, the dual sets of four electric propulsion systems—comprising Hall and ion technologies—integrated onto the platform effectively met the criteria for precise positional maintenance.
The Asia-Pacific 6E satellite project represents the 13th milestone in the series of on-orbit communication satellite deliveries orchestrated by Great Wall Company, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, for both domestic and international clients. Under the stewardship of Hong Kong Asia-Pacific Starlink Satellite Co., Ltd., and with measurement and control management entrusted to Hong Kong Asia-Pacific Communications Satellite Co., Ltd., this project underscores a commitment to the Southeast Asian market. By offering cost-effective, high-throughput broadband communication services, the Asia-Pacific 6E satellite stands poised to significantly enhance connectivity and drive progress in the region.
