China launches European communications satellite
Posted: Fri, Oct 7, 2011, 8:32 PM ET (0032 GMT)
A Long March rocket launched a European communications satellite on Friday, marking the first Chinese launch for a Western company in over a decade. The Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 4:21 am EDT (0821 GMT, 4:21 pm Beijing time) Friday and placed the Eutelsat W3C satellite into orbit. The satellite, build by Thales Alenia Space, weighed 5,400 kilograms at launch and carries a mix of Ku- and Ka-band transponders. European satellite operator Eutelsat will use the satellite at 16 degrees east in GEO to provide communications services in portions of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The launch marks the first time a Chinese rocket has launched a satellite for a Western owner since 1999. US regulations prevent the export to China of satellites built by American companies or containing American components, which has greatly restricted the commercial market for Chinese launch vehicles. Eutelsat W3C is a so-called "ITAR-free" satellite built by Thales Alenia without using any American parts, allowing its export to and launch from China.
A Long March rocket launched a European communications satellite on Friday, marking the first Chinese launch for a Western company in over a decade. The Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 4:21 am EDT (0821 GMT, 4:21 pm Beijing time) Friday and placed the Eutelsat W3C satellite into orbit. The satellite, build by Thales Alenia Space, weighed 5,400 kilograms at launch and carries a mix of Ku- and Ka-band transponders. European satellite operator Eutelsat will use the satellite at 16 degrees east in GEO to provide communications services in portions of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The launch marks the first time a Chinese rocket has launched a satellite for a Western owner since 1999. US regulations prevent the export to China of satellites built by American companies or containing American components, which has greatly restricted the commercial market for Chinese launch vehicles. Eutelsat W3C is a so-called "ITAR-free" satellite built by Thales Alenia without using any American parts, allowing its export to and launch from China.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, July 27
Nvidia is sending GPUs to the moon
TechCrunch — 5:47 am ET (0947 GMT) SpaceX plans Starship tower catch for next test flight, Elon Musk announces
KVEO-TV Rio Grande Valley, TX — 5:42 am ET (0942 GMT) An abandoned SpaceX rocket is about to crash into the Moon. The real problem comes next
The Conversation — 5:42 am ET (0942 GMT) European SpaceX Rival in Talks to Raise $300 Million, FT Reports
Bloomberg News — 5:42 am ET (0942 GMT) Musk’s SpaceX tumbles back to Earth, dragging Tesla stock down with it
Washington Post — 5:40 am ET (0940 GMT) |
