OREANDA-NEWS. December 09, 2013. China Great Wall Industry Corporation signed a satellite procurement contract with APT Satellite Company Limited, a Hong Kong based satellite operator, for the APSTAR-9 Satellite Program, which marks that the Chinese communication satellite based on the DFH-4 platform successfully entered into the market of the established international satellite operators.

As one of the leading satellite operators in the Asia-Pacific region, APT Satellite Company Limited, since its operation commenced in 1992, currently owns and operates five in-orbit satellites, namely APSTAR 1, APSTAR 1A, APSTAR 5, APSTAR 6 and APSTAR 7, covering regions in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia approximately 75% of the world’s population, all of which were supplied by the top American and European satellite manufacturers. APSTAR 9 satellite is the first communication satellite based on DFH-4 platform procured by APT, which represents the breakthrough of delivering satellite to a leading international satellite operator by China space industry.

According to the Contract, as the prime contractor, CGWIC will design, manufacture, assemble, launch, and deliver to the customer in orbit the APSTART 9 Satellite and other ground control system necessary for the satellite operation, with the support of its subcontractors.

Based on DFH-4 platform, APSTAR 9 Satellite is developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), subordinated to China Aerospace Science & Technology Corporation (CASC) with a designed service life of 15 years. The Satellite is equipped with 46 transponders which consist of 32 C-band transponders and 14 Ku-band transponders respectively. It will be launched by the LM-3B/E launch vehicle developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), also a subsidiary of CASC, from Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in late 2015 and will be located at geostationary orbit of 142 degrees east longitude. China Satellite Launch & Tracking Control General (CLTC) will be responsible for the design and delivery of the ground segment for the operation of the satellite. APSTAR-9 Satellite C-band transponders can provide quality satellite telecommunications and broadcasting services to customers across the Asia-Pacific region. The Ku-band transponders are designed with the beams applicable to maritime and aircraft-board satellite broadband communication, the application of which for the surrounding seas of China and West Pacific has been optimized specifically.