(Press Trust of India via NewsEdge) China has launched a telecom satellite to further boost the nation's communications facilities ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The locally made Zhongxing-22A was launched with a "Long March-3A" rocket carrier from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
After 25 minutes, the Xi'an Satellite Monitoring and Controlling Center reported that the Zhongxing-22A successfully entered the preset orbit, at a perigee of 207km and an apogee of 42,000km.
Zhongxing-22A, an earth-synchronous telecom satellite, was designed by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Technology Group Co.
It was designed to work for eight years for owner China Telecommunication Broadcast Satellite Co. under the China Telecommunications Satellite Group Co.
The satellite's launch marked the tenth consecutive successful launch of the Long March-3A and the 91st launch of the Long March rocket carriers.
Since October 1996, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center has conducted 18 consecutive successful launches. This is also the country's 49th successful space launch in the running.
According to some experts, once the satellite shifts its track, it will be fixed above the Equator, at 98 degrees East Longitude. It will eventually be handed over to the owner.
© 2006 Asia Pulse Pte Ltd
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