Chinasat 1A
| Chinasat 1A | |
|---|---|
| Start date | September 18, 2011, 16:33 UTC |
| Launcher | Long march 3B / E |
| Launch site | Xichang |
| COSPAR-ID : | 2011-047A |
| Takeoff mass | 5,200 kg |
| Manufacturer | CAST |
| Satellite bus | DFH-4 |
| lifespan | 15 years |
| operator | Chinasat |
| Others | |
| Electrical power | unknown |
| List of geostationary satellites | |
Chinasat 1A (ZX-1A, ZhongXing-1A) is a Chinese military communications satellite .
It was launched into geostationary orbit from Launch Pad 2 of the Xichang Cosmodrome in southwest China's Sichuan Province on September 18, 2011 at 16:33 UTC using a Long March 3 B / E launcher .
The mass of the satellite, developed and built by the Chinese Academy for Space Technology (CAST) under the aegis of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), is estimated to be over 5000 kilograms and its lifespan to fifteen years. The Xinhua news agency reports that the satellite is used for high-quality transmission of voice, images and data between users in China.
According to Western estimates, the satellite belongs to a new generation of tactical communication satellites of the Fenghuo (烽火, " signal fire ") type, which are supposed to guarantee secure digital data and voice communication for the Chinese armed forces. The first Fenghuo satellite, Zhongxing-22 , was launched on January 25, 2000 with a Long March 3A launcher.