Feng Huo 1

China (PR)

Spacecraft nº:

China satellite nº: 64
Orig PL Name: Zhong Xing-22
Also called: DFH 48 or ZX-22 or FH-1

Launch data:


Designation 26058 / 00003A
Launch date 25 Jan 2000 - 16:45 UT
Launch site Xichang, LC-2
Launch vehicle CZ-3A
Mission Communication
Geostationary orbit on 2000 Feb 8.68:
Perigee / Apogee 35782 x 35789 km
Eccentricity 0.00009
Inclination 0.75°
Period 1436.07 min

Specifications:

Prime contractor  Academy of Space Technology / CAST
Bus  DFH-3
Operator  
Mass at launch 2300 kg
Dry Mass  
Basic shape  Box + 2 panels
Dimension  2.2 x 1.72 x2.0
Solar array  18.1 span
Stabilization  
DC power  
Design lifetime > million years

Mission details:

Zhongxing-22, launched on Jan 25, 2000 by Chang Zheng 3A from Xichang, is a Chinese comsat. The CZ-3A is a three-stage launch vehicle with a liquid hydrogen upper stage; this was its fourth flight, although the CZ3B (with 5 flights) is basically the same vehicle with strapon boosters. The Zhongxing series of comsats has provided domestic Chinese communications since 1988 for the China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corp, a division of the Chinese ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. Early satellites were Chinese-built DFH-2A models, and later DFH-3 (Chinese-built but based on a German design). Zhongxing 5 and 7 where US-built satellites; the US government banned the delivery of Zhongxing 8, built by Loral and intended for launch last year. It's not clear what the significance of '22' in Zhongxing-22's name is. It's also not clear what kind of satellite Zhongxing-22 is; it's a Chinese-built satellite, developed by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology in Beijing and probably derived from the DFH-3 (3-axis stablized) design which was of similar mass (launch mass of ZX-22 is 2300 kg). The DFH-3 has a liquid apogee engine probably derived from the MBB S400.It was reported in 1999 that the Feng Huo 1 (FH-1) satellite was to be launched by CZ-3A in early 2000; it is possible that ZX-22 is actually FH-1 by another name.
Ref.: #7(SR419-420), #22, #206 - update: 30.09.08