Tim Furniss/LONDON
CHINA'S FIRST three-axis stabilised, advanced 24 C-band, communications satellite has been declared a loss in geostationary orbit (GEO) after all its reserves of attitude-control propellants were prematurely exhausted (Flight International, 11-17 January).
The 1,000kg satellite failed to reach its planned operational station, having reached GEO earlier this month after its launch on 30 November, 1994, aboard a Long March 3A booster from Xichang.
Initially, the DFH 3 had been stranded in a quasi-geostationary- transfer orbit after its apogee-engine burn had been stopped by navigation errors.
So much propellant was used in the effort to stabilise the spacecraft during its struggle into GEO that there was not enough to complete the final drift manoeuvres, let alone to carry out operational stationkeeping once the satellite was on station.
The DFH 3, built in China, with a 20% contribution from Germany's Daimler Benz Aerospace MBB division, was to have provided six television and 8,000 telephone channels. A second DFH 3 is planned.
The satellite represented China's entry to the big league of spacecraft builders, with hopes that it would provide the country with further opportunities to play a major role in the growing communications market in the Asia Pacific region.
China and Daimler Benz had formed a 50:50 partnership, Euras Spas, to market and develop DFH-class satellites and other spacecraft and associated services, including the Sinosat 1 spacecraft for the People's Bank of China.
Source: Flight International
