Zhongxing 12

Zhongxing 15A

Illustration of ZX 15A
Mission type Communication
Operator China Satcom
Mission duration 15 years
Spacecraft properties
Bus Spacebus-4000C2[1]
Manufacturer Thales Alenia Space
Launch mass 5,054 kilograms (11,142 lb)
Power 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Start of mission
Launch date 27 November 2012[2]
Rocket Chang Zheng 3B/E[3]
Launch site Xichang LA-2
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Longitude 87.5° East
Transponders
Band 28 C-band
28 Ku-band
Coverage area China
Sri Lanka
East Asia
South Asia
Middle East
Africa
Australia
China sea area
the Indian Ocean region.

Now called Zhongxing 15A (ZX 15A), or ChinaSat-15A, the former Zhongxing 12[4][3] communications satellite is wholly owned by China Satcom, with part of its communications payload leased or rented by SupremeSAT, a Sri Lankan company to be marketed to potential users as SupremeSAT-I.[5] Once operational it will provide communications services for the China, Sri Lanka, East Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Africa, Australia and China sea area, the Indian Ocean region.[6]

Orbit

Following launch on 27 November 2012, the satellite was placed into geosynchronous orbit and located at 51.5° East while being tested. On April 19, 2013 it started to move towards its operational location at 87.5°[7] East. At the same time it was renamed Chinasat 15A to reflect its future operation as a replacement for Chinasat 5A, the current incumbent of the slot.

The satellite was built by Thales Alenia Space and has a designed life of 15 years.

Gallery

References