Sinosat 2 --> Zhongxing 5C

Launch data: Designation  29516 / 06048A Launch date  28 Oct 2006 Launch site  Xichang, LC-2 Launch vehicle  CZ-3B Mission  Communication Geostationary orbit: Perigee / Apogee   km Inclination  ° Period   min

Decay:

Mission details:

• China successfully launched a new-generation high-power communications and broadcast satellite, the SinoSat-2, into space aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket in the small hours on Oct 29, 2006.
  The satellite, launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China′s Sichuan province at 0:20 (Beijing Time), is designed to serve broadcast TV, digital TV, live broadcast TV and digital broadband multimedia systems on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
• Although SINOSAT 2 had supposedly been abandoned after the failure of the solar panels, during March 24-25, 2008 the orbital period of the satellite was reduced from 1,436.90 minutes to 1,436.39 minutes (close to a typical geosynchronous orbital period), suggesting that the Chinese are going to try and operate the satellite. It is located over 70 deg E.
• The Sinosat broadcasting satellites Xinnuo 1 and 3, previously operated by the Xinnuo weixing TG, have been renamed Zhongxing 5B and 5C since that company′s merger into China Satcom.
  Xinnuo 2 was retired in 2008 and decommissioned in Nov 2009.

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel Sinosat 2 - Credit: #411