spacetoday.net: China launches communications satellite

Posted: Wed, Nov 28, 2012, 6:55 AM ET (1155 GMT)
Long March 3B launch of Chinasat-12 (Xinhua)

A Long March rocket launched a Chinese communications satellite that will be used, in part, by a Sri Lankan company. The Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 5:13 am EST (1013 GMT. 6:13 pm Beijing time) Tuesday and placed the Chinasat-12 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The satellite, a Spacebus 4000 model built by Thales Alenia Space, weighed approximately 5,000 kilograms at launch and carries a payload of C- and Ku-band transponders. The spacecraft is a so-called "ITAR-free" spacecraft without any US-built components to comply with US export control restrictions. China Satcom, the satellite's owner, will operate the satellite at 87.5 degrees east in GEO, providing communications services from China to the Middle East. a portion of the satellite's capacity will be leased to a Sri Lankan company, SupremeSat, which refers to the satellite at SupremeSat-1.