DFH-3 Media Gallery

The DFH-3 was an indigenous military communications satellite. On-orbit mass was over one metric ton. The box-shaped satellite was equipped with two large solar panels and was 3-axis stabilized. The communications payload could consist of up to 24 6/4 GHz transponders and the design life was eight years.

The satellite was equipped with an FY-25 liquid propellant motor for apogee insertion and stationkeeping. The motor was rated for 1800 seconds total firing time. Technical assistance in overall system design and implementation was provided by MBB of Germany under a special contract. In August 2001 it was announced that China's first direct TV broadcasting satellite would be launched by 2004, and that it would use the DFH-3 bus.

Typical orbit: 35501 km x 35877 km at 0 degrees inclination. Length: 1.70 m (5.50 ft). Maximum Diameter: 2.20 m (7.20 ft). Span: 18.10 m (59.30 ft). Mass: 2,230 kg (4,910 lb). Main Engine: FY-25. Main Engine Propellants: 1,100 kg (2,400 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: CZ-3A.

• 1994 February 8 - KF-1 - Program: Chinastar. Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3A. Mass: 2,200 kg (4,800 lb). Perigee: 178 km (110 mi). Apogee: 36,046 km (22,397 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 635.69 min.

  Mass model of DFH-3 satellite.

• 1994 November 29 - Zhongxing-5 - Program: Chinastar. Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3A. Mass: 2,230 kg (4,910 lb). Perigee: 35,225 km (21,887 mi). Apogee: 35,957 km (22,342 mi). Inclination: 0.15 deg. Period: 1,426.15 min.

  The first test launch of a DFH-3 by a CZ-3A launch vehicle was successful in attaining the proper transfer orbit, but during the subsequent manoeuvres to achieve geostationary orbit, the DFH-3 failed due to a malfunction of the satellite on-board propulsion system. The satellite was positioned at 132 deg E prior to the failure. As of 4 September 2001 located at 113.80 deg E drifting at 2.499 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 2 located at 90.02E drifting at 2.513E degrees per day.

• 1997 May 11 - Zhongxing-6 - Program: Chinastar. Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3A. Mass: 2,200 kg (4,800 lb). Perigee: 35,776 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,797 km (22,243 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.

  The telecommunications satellite, the most sophisticated and complex satellite ever built in China, was equipped with 24 transponders used for television, digital transmission and other telecommunications services. It had a design life eight years. After over one year of tests the satellite was delivered to the end user, China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corporation (Chinasat) on August 12 1998. A long term operation contract for the redesignated Chinasat-6 was signed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), Chinasat and the Xian Satellite Control Center. Chinasat-6 operated in geosynchronous orbit at 125 deg E in 1997-1999. As of 5 September 2001 located at 124.99 deg E drifting at 0.011 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 6 located at 123.93E drifting at 0.104W degrees per day.

• 2003 November 14 - Zhongxing 20 - Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3A. Mass: 2,300 kg (5,000 lb). Perigee: 35,762 km (22,221 mi). Apogee: 35,811 km (22,251 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.

  Military communications satellite. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 103.00E drifting at 0.010W degrees per day.

• 2007 May 31 - Sinosat 3 - Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3A. Mass: 2,200 kg (4,800 lb). Perigee: 35,779 km (22,231 mi). Apogee: 35,793 km (22,240 mi). Inclination: 0.30 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.

  Chinese C-band domestic communications satellite, launched as part of a campaign to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games, and to compensate for failure of the first DFH-4 satellite.

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