China Aerospace CorporationLong March 3Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Apstar 1A
Launched
July 3, 1996
Image: CASC
Summary
Apstar 1A launched on a China Aerospace Corporation Long March 3 from Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China on July 3, 1996. It was China Aerospace Corporation's 11th launch, 2nd this year and humanity's 4,084th orbital launch attempt. It was the 10th Long March 3 flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Geostationary Orbit (Direct-GEO). Apstar 1A, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 199 × 42,029 km orbit inclined 26.8°. 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Long March 3 · China Aerospace Corporation
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Communications · Geostationary Orbit (Direct-GEO)
- Milestone
- 10th Long March 3 flight · 1st this yearChina Aerospace Corporation's 11th launch2nd this yearhumanity's 4,084th orbital launch attempt43rd orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Apstar 1A · NORAD 23943 · 1996-039 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- APSTAR 1A
- Object ID
- 1996-039A
- Epoch
- 1996-07-04 06:16:52 UTC
- Mean motion
- 1.90529372 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.7609597
- Inclination
- 26.8283°
- Ascending node
- 80.2479°
- Arg. of perigee
- 178.7332°
- Mean anomaly
- 185.9714°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 1
- B*
- 0.0039692
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: Direct-GEO.
Catalogued objects
2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage
- Apstar 1A · NORAD 23943
CZ-3 Y10A Stage 3 · re-entered September 12, 2009
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
The APSTAR 1 spacecraft carries such general communications traffic as voice, fax, data, and television signals across China and Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and Vietnam. APSTAR 1A has expanded coverage to India and Pakistan. Hughes Space and Communications International, Inc., signed a contract in May 1992 with APT Satellite Company, Ltd., of Hong Kong for the first satellite. APT ordered APSTAR IA in March 1995. The spacecraft were built at the Hughes Space and Communications Company facilities in El Segundo, Calif.
Pad
Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
10th launch from Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), 1st this year · 20th from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
108 launches from this pad · 242 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
712 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of ChinaOpen in maps
Questions
When did Apstar 1A launch?
Apstar 1A launched on July 3, 1996. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Apstar 1A?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Apstar 1A?
Long March 3, flown by China Aerospace Corporation. Long March 3 spec sheet
Where did Apstar 1A launch from?
Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China.
What orbit did Apstar 1A reach?
Apstar 1A, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 199 × 42,029 km orbit inclined 26.8°.
How many satellites did Apstar 1A launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).