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China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLaunch SuccessfulCommunicationsLong March 3B
Launched 2020-11-12 15:59:04 UTCLaunch Complex 2 (LC-2), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Success
Reached Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Worldwide
90th
orbital launch attempt in 2020
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
29th
launch this year
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2)
6th
launch from this pad this year
Pad turnaround
31 d 23 h
since the pad's previous launch
Designed by the CAST Institute (China Academy of Space Technology), a subsidiary of the Chinese aerospace group CASC and specialized in spacecraft design, the Tiantong-1 02 satellite will be operated by China Satellite Communications Co. Ltd, another CASC subsidiary which owns about ten communication satellites such as the ChinaStar and APStar.
Tiantong-1 02 is the second satellite of China's first mobile communication network.
It uses a Chinese DFH-4 satellite platform, and, according to its manufacturer CAST, has the highest payload mass utilization rate compared to other satellites of the same family.
The project was launched in 2010 following the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan, where almost all ground communication networks were paralyzed. China had no mobile communication satellites at the time, so it had to lease services from foreign countries, such as Inmarsat in Europe, for its rescue teams.
Launch Provider
Government · China · Founded 1999 · Chairman & President Lei Fanpei
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.
Launches
621
Successful
605
97%
Landings
1
of 2
Upcoming
7
scheduled
Height
56.3m
Diameter
3.4m
To low Earth orbit
12,000kg
Liftoff thrust
5,924kN
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