China launched its third space mission in 2023 on Thursday, January 12, by launching a commercial telecommunications satellite. Rocket Long March 2C took off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 11:10 a.m. ET on Thursday (18:10 GMT; 02:10 Beijing time on January 13).

He reported on it China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), which developed both the rocket and the satellite (opens in new tab), successfully launched within an hour. The APStar 6E satellite has been ordered by APT Satellite from Hong Kong and will be added to the company’s fleet of telecommunications satellites serving the Asia-Pacific region.

The 4,607-pound (2,090-kilogram) satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) based on the new DFH-3E small satellite platform with all-electric propulsion.

Satellite sent to first low level extrastellar in orbit, but will spend most of the year gaining altitude to reach stable orbit 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above the equator. APStar 6E will launch with a detachable propulsion system that will take the satellite into a higher orbit, and then the satellite’s own propulsion system will complete its months-long stationary orbital journey.

The APStar 6E is planned to operate for 15 years in a fixed location above 134 degrees east latitude. From there, it will provide a useful bandwidth of 30 gigabits per second with 25 Ku-band and 3 Ka-band beams. The launch was the third in China this year. CASC, China’s main state-owned space contractor, plans to launch more than 50 launches this year. Space station of Tiangong country.