On July 9 at 12:11 pm UTC, a Long March 3B rocket launched the APStar-6D into geosynchronous orbit at the 134⁰E orbital slot.

According to CASC, it is a high-throughput communication satellite. This means the satellite can have a higher bandwidth with faster speed and that receivers are more portable. Specifically, it “is capable of providing hundreds of [megabits per second] broadband services for airlines, or thousands of [megabits per second] broadband services for maritime ships and cruise ships,” according to a press release from operator APStar.

APStar-6D is equipped with electric propulsion, which saves on launch mass since the satellite doesn’t have to pack nearly as much of its own fuel. This is great because this satellite is massive, weighing in at 5550 kilograms (approximately 2775 2-liter soda bottles). Five thousand five hundred and fifty kilograms also happens to be the upper limit of the lifting capabilities of the Long March 3B, so there literally wasn’t room for things like LOX or hydrazine or the extra plumbing and moving parts needed for more traditional thrusters.

The satellite is expected to stay in orbit for 15 years.

Lu Shen at Guangming Daily reported that “this launch mission did not cause casualties and major property losses.”  

More Information

APT Mobile Satcom Limited press release 

CAST WeChat article (Chinese)

APStar-6D info page (Gunter’s Space Page)