Sinosat 3 --> ZX 5C (Chinasat 5C) --> Eutelsat 3A

Launch data: Designation  31577 / 07021A Launch date  31 May 2007 - 16:08 UT Launch site  Xichang, LC-2 Launch vehicle  CZ-3A Mission  Domestic communication Geostationary orbit: Perigee / Apogee  35774 x 35799 km Inclination  0.08° Period  1436.08 min

Mission details:

• Another Chinese launch, on May 31, put the DFH-3 class Chinese C-band domestic communications satellite Xinnuo 3 (Sinosat 3) in a 194 x 41904 km x 25.1 deg transfer orbit. By Jun 15 the satellite was geostationary at 125E.
• The CZ-3A vehicle used to orbit Xinnuo-3 was the 100th launch of a Chang Zheng (Long March) class rocket, including two CZ-1 launches (unrelated vehicle) but not counting 11 launches of the related Feng Bao vehicle and at least 9 launches of the suborbital DF-5 missile on which the CZ-2 and later series is based.
• In 2010, the satellite was taken over by China Satcom and renamed ZX 5C (Chinasat 5C).
• In July 2011, the satellite was leased to Eutelsat, renamed Eutelsat 3A and moved to the 3° East position as a placeholder for the new Eutelsat 3B satellite (will be launched in 2014).