APSTAR-6E at 134° East
| Position: | 134° East |
| Manufacturer: | CASC |
| Operator: | APT Satellite Co. |
| Launch operator: | CGWIC |
| Launch vehicle: | Long March 2C |
| Launch date: | 01/12/2023 |
| Expected lifetime: | 15+ Years |
APSTAR-6E at 134° East is a Chinese high throughput (HTP) communications satellite operated by APT Satellite from Hong Kong. The satellite was constructed by satellite manufacturer CAST from China and is based on CAST’s DFH-3E SmallSat platform. It has a launch mass of only 1,800kgs and has a 15-year life time.
In November 2020 APT Satellite signed a contract with China Great Wall Industry Corp. (CGWIC) of Beijing for the construction and launch of the APSTER-6E satellite. The launch was unusual as it used the light-weight CZ-2C rocket.
APSTAR-6E at 134° East was launched on January 12th, 2023 on a Chinese CZ-2C booster with an additional propulsion module called SPS. But due to a series of valve faults involving the pressurization system, the SPS main engine could not be used for orbital raising. No significant loss of life was anticipated, but the orbital raising took several weeks longer than planned.
APSTAR-6E at 134° East
