A communications satellite, AsiaSat-6, was sent into space atop the
Long March 3B rocket from the launch center in Xichang in southwest
China's
Sichuan
Province at 8 PM on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the China Academy of Launch Vehicle
Technology said it was the 84th successful flight for Long March
since its maiden voyage in 1970 and the 42nd consecutive one since
October 1996.
The launch, for Hong Kong-based APT Satellite Limited,
represents the return of Chinese rockets to the international
commercial launch market after an absence of seven years, said the
spokesperson.????
AsiaSat-6, which has 50 transponders, will replace AsiaSat-1 A
and will be followed by the launch of another satellite for APT
Satellite, AsiaSat-6B.
(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2005)
