Apstar VI
| Mission duration | 15 years |
|---|---|
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | Spacebus 4000C1 |
| Manufacturer | Alcatel Space |
| Launch mass | 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | April 12, 2005 |
| Rocket | Chang Zheng 3B |
| Launch site | Xichang LA-2 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 134° East Coordinates: 0°N 134°E / 0°N 134°E |
| Transponders | |
| Band |
38 C band 12 Ku band |
| Bandwidth |
36 MHz 50 MHz |
| TWTA power |
64W (C band) 145 (Ku band) |
| EIRP |
at Peak: 42 decibel-watts 60 decibel-watts |
Apstar VI is a communications satellite built by Alcatel Space, a subsidiary of Alcatel, and was boosted into orbit on April 12, 2005 by Long March 3B launcher from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China. It provides APT Satellite Holdings (APT), a satellite operator in the Asia Pacific region, with broadband media and television services. It is fitted with 38 C-band transponders and 12 Ku band transponders. China is covered with a dedicated high power Ku band beam for broadband multimedia transmission. It is the second model of the Spacebus 4000. The transponders have a reduced C-band receiving dish over a wide footprint, which extends across India, China and Australia.
It is significant in enhancing cooperation between Alcatel Space and China as a follow up to the SINOSAT satellite.
External sources
- Alcatel press release
- APT website
- Apstar VI footprint(s) at SatBeams