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China Launches Commercial Satellite

Posted on: Wednesday, 13 April 2005, 09:00 CDT

China has launched a communications satellite from its space center in Xichang Sichuan province, its first commercial launch in seven years.

A Long March 3B lifted off at 8 p.m. Tuesday, carrying the AsiaSat-6 communications satellite for Apstar Satellite, a Hong Kong company, Xinhua reported. The 50-transponder satellite replaces AsiaSat-1A.

A spokesman from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology said this was the 84th successful flight of China's Long March rocket series since its maiden voyage in 1970, and the 42nd consecutive successful flight going back to October 1996.

It represents a return of Chinese rockets to the international commercial launch market after an absence of seven years, the spokesman added.

Xinhua said rockets developed by the academy had placed 39 Chinese satellites, 28 foreign-made satellites and five space vehicles, including a manned one, into orbit over the past 35 years.

Source: United Press International

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