ChinaSat 12

The ChinaSat 12 (Chinese: 中星12号; pinyin: Zhōngxīng 12)^[4][5][3][6] communications satellite is wholly owned by China Satellite Communications, with part of its communications payload leased or rented by SupremeSAT, a Sri Lankan company, to be marketed to potential users as SupremeSAT-I.^[7] Once operational, it will provide communications services for the China, Sri Lanka, East Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and China sea area, the Indian Ocean region.^[8]

ChinaSat 12

Illustration of ZX 15A
Mission type	Communication
Operator	China Satellite Communications
COSPAR ID	2012-067A
SATCAT no.	39017
Website	english.csat.spacechina.com/n931903/c932043/content.html
Mission duration	15 years
Spacecraft properties
Bus	Spacebus-4000C2[1]
Manufacturer	Thales Alenia Space
Launch mass	5,054 kilograms (11,142 lb)
Power	2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Start of mission
Launch date	27 November 2012 (2012-11-27)[2]
Rocket	Long March 3B/E[3]
Launch site	Xichang LA-2
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Geostationary
Longitude	87.5° East
Transponders
Band	28 C-band 28 Ku-band
Coverage area	China Sri Lanka East Asia South Asia Middle East Africa Australia China sea area the Indian Ocean region.

ChinaSat 12 was also known as Apstar 7B (as a backup of Apstar 7), but acquired by China Satellite Communications from its subsidiary APT Satellite Holdings in 2010.^[9] However, APT Satellite Holdings was contracted by its parent company as the operator of ChinaSat 12.^[9]

Orbit

Following launch on 27 November 2012,^[10] the satellite was placed into geosynchronous orbit and located at 51.5° East while being tested. On April 19, 2013, it started to move towards its operational location at 87.5° East.^{[citation needed]}

The satellite was built by Thales Alenia Space and has a designed life of 15 years.

Gallery

• 
  Diagram of the Long March 3B, showing its outboard liquid rocket boosters.
• 
  The launch of a Long March 3B (similar to CZ-3B/E (Chang Zheng-3B/E))