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Launch SuccessfulChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Long March 3B: Shijian-13/Chinasat-16

This is a Chinese experimental geostationary communications satellite. Besides testing the electric propulsion, the satellite is also reported to carry Chinas first high-throughput satellite payload (HTS), with a capacity of 20 GB per second. The satellite is aiming to provide Ka-band satellite broadband and multimedia services. Additionally it is also to conduct space-to-ground laser communications experiments.

Wednesday, 12 April 201711:04 UTC
Long March 3B: Shijian-13/Chinasat-16

Mission Data

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
🇨🇳China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationEst. 1999
Launch VehicleLong March 3B
Vehicle FamilyLong March
Vehicle Record21 of 24 launches (87.5%)
Provider TypeGovernment
Agency Record606 successes / 16 failures (97%)
Success Streak13 consecutive
Mission TypeCommunications
Target OrbitGeostationary Transfer Orbit
Launch PadLaunch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1)
Location🇨🇳 Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China CHN
Orbital Launches This Year#19
Agency Launches This Year#3
Launches From This Pad109
Launches From This Site243
Status Note

The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).

About Long March 3B

The Long March 3B is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. Introduced in 1996, it is launched from Launch Area 2 and 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan. A three-stage rocket with four strap-on liquid rocket boosters, it is currently the most powerful member of the Long March rocket family and the heaviest of the Long March 3 rocket family, and is mainly used to place communications satellites into geosynchronous orbits.

Launch Site

Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1) · 28.2471°N 102.0290°E

Launch data from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs.