China Launches Dongfanghong-IV Satellite Project

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 28, 2001

China Launches Dongfanghong-IV Satellite Project

China has recently launched Dongfanghong-IV project, the large-capacity and long-term static orbiting communications and broadcasting satellite.

The designed life-span of the satellite is 15 years with 50 communication transmitters installed. Virtual load of the satellite will be designed mainly for broadcasting and communication. The whole project is to be finished in four years as planned.

Latest Level of Space Tech. Marked

To meet the demand for development of communications satellites in domestic and overseas market, China has recently launched Dongfanghong-IV project, the large-capacity and long-term static orbiting communications and broadcasting satellite, marking the latest level in the development of China's space technology.

The designed life-span of the satellite is 15 years with 50 communication transmitters installed. Virtual load of the satellite will be designed mainly for broadcasting and communication. The whole project is to be finished in four years as planned.

The Project of Dongfanghong-IV Satellite is directed by Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND) and developed by Chinese Academy of Space Technology of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

It is the third generation of communications satellite of China. The designed life-span of the satellite is 15 years with 50 communication transmitters installed. Virtual load of the satellite will be designed mainly for broadcasting and communication.

The whole project is to be finished in four years as planned.

Initial Study Finished

During the period of the ninth Five-year Plan, Chinese Academy of Space Technology, with the help of the state and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, has been engaged in the research of developing large-scale earth static orbiting communications and broadcasting satellite.

Breakthroughs have been made in batch of crucial technologies such as large fuel tank. The Academy finished the tasks for initial study in January 2001. The program of the satellite passed the experts' exam and inspection from the COSTIND.

Communication Satellite Public Platform

To keep pace with the development of the "Dongfanghong-IV" Satellite Chinese Academy of Space Technology will also put up China's new-generation large-capacity and long-term communication satellite public platform by using matured technology and technological renovation as sources say.

The platform will be developed by adhering to the principle of "universality, inheritance, expansibility and timeliness and advancement". The functions of the platform are similar to advanced satellites as developed by other countries. It can be applied to the communication by earth static orbiting satellites such as large-capacity communications satellites, the second-generation live broadcast satellites and mobile communications satellites. China is targeting at small-scale production of it in a short time to come.

Satellite public platform refers to the one compatible for multiple virtual loads that are created by modifying for adaptations in accordance with demands for different space tasks.

Disparity to Be Shortened

To unfold study of the Dongfanghong-IV Satellite and to establish large-scale communications and broadcasting satellite public platform, as experts pointed out, will not only greatly enhance China's sci-tech level of satellite communication, broadcasting and televising, and information transmitting, but also make quick the process of informationization. This will help shorten by large the disparity between China and foreign countries in communication satellite technology, enabling it to rank itself among the few of the world which can develop large-scale communications satellite and platform.

Sources say that the Dongfanghong-II, China's first-generation communications satellite was launched successfully in 1984, which was followed with Dongfanghong-III, the second-generation medium-capacity communications satellite in May 1997. The satellite carried 24 transmitters and was designed a life cycle of eight years. Up till now it has been orbiting the earth for four and a half years.

China carries out its space activities in accordance with the following principles:

Adhering to the principle of long-term, stable and sustainable development and making the development of space activities cater to and serve the state's comprehensive development strategy;

Upholding the principle of independence, self-reliance and self-renovation and actively promoting international exchanges and cooperation;

Selecting a limited number of targets and making breakthroughs in key areas according to the national situation and strength;

Enhancing the social and economic returns of space activities and paying attention to the motivation of technological progress; and

Sticking to integrated planning, combination of long-term development and short-term development, combination of spacecraft and ground equipment, and coordinated development.

Click Here for the White Paper on China's Space Activities (11/22/00)

By PD Online staff member Du Minghua

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