ChinaSat 9

ChinaSat 9 (Chinese: 中星9号; pinyin: Zhōngxīng Jiǔhào),^[2] also known as ZX-9, is a Chinese communications satellite.

ChinaSat 9

Names	ZX-9
Mission type	Communications
Operator	China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corporation
COSPAR ID	2008-028A
SATCAT no.	33051
Mission duration	15 years (planned) 17 years, 1 month, 24 days (2 August 2025)
Spacecraft properties
Bus	Spacebus 4000C2
Manufacturer	Thales Alenia Space
Launch mass	4,500 kg (9,900 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	9 June 2008, 12:15:04 UTC
Rocket	Long March 3B
Launch site	Xichang, LA-2
Contractor	China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	92.2° East
Transponders
Band	22 Ku-band transponders

Launch

It was launched from pad 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre on 9 June 2008, at 12:15:04 UTC, by a Long March 3B launch vehicle.^[3] It is based on the Spacebus 4000C2 satellite bus, and was constructed in France by Thales Alenia Space in its Cannes Mandelieu Space Center.^[4] It is one of several ChinaSat spacecraft in orbit.

Mission

It was launched to act as a relay satellite for the 2008 Olympic Games, and will subsequently be used for general communications. Equipped with 22 Ku-band transponders, it was placed in geosynchronous orbit at a longitude of 92.2° East.^[3]