Advanced comms satellite launched from Sichuan

Advanced comms satellite launched from Sichuan
by Staff Writers
Beijing (XNA) Feb 24, 2023

China successfully launched its sixth rocket of 2023, a Long March 3B carrier rocket, on Thursday evening from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province. The rocket carried the ChinaSat 26 communications satellite into geostationary orbit, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.

The satellite, developed by the China Academy of Space Technology in Beijing, connects user devices mounted on cars, ships, and aircraft to high-speed broadband internet using a DFH-4E structure.

The DFH-4E structure, which stands for Dongfanghong-4E, is a type of geostationary communications satellite platform developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

The DFH-4E platform is designed to provide a flexible and reliable platform for a range of communication applications, including voice, data, and multimedia services. It is capable of supporting both traditional and digital payload technologies and can be adapted to meet a variety of customer requirements.

The DFH-4E satellite platform uses a high-power bus system, which allows for increased payload power and capacity, as well as enhanced radiation hardening to improve the satellite's resistance to radiation in space. The platform also includes advanced thermal control and power supply systems, which help to ensure reliable and stable operation of the satellite in orbit.

The ChinaSat 26 satellite, which uses the DFH-4E platform, has a transmission capacity of 100 gigabits per second, making it one of the most advanced civilian communications satellites in China. Its expected contribution to China's high-throughput satellite network is seen as critical to the country's efforts to expand its space-based communications capabilities.

Overall, the DFH-4E structure has become a key technology for China's space program, with numerous satellites built on this platform being launched into orbit in recent years. Its flexibility, reliability, and advanced features have made it a go-to solution for a range of communication applications.

The Long March 3B rocket is one of the most reliable workhorses of China's rocket fleet and has completed 463 missions to date. This particular launch marks the first flight of the Long March 3B model. China plans to carry out around 60 launch missions in 2023, including manned and robotic flights to the Tiangong space station and the maiden flight of the Long March 6C.