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Dongfanghong 3
The Dongfanghong 3 (DFH-3) medium-capacity, geostationary communications satellite was developed in the 1990s by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) as a new-generation communications satellite with improved capacity and reliability over its predecessor Dongfanghong 2. The airframe of the satellite has also been developed into a common satellite bus for other spacecraft.
Programme
China began the develop the second-generation communications satellite in the early 1980s to meet the growing market demand for larger-capacity communications and broadcasting satellites from both civil and military sectors. The project was officially given go-ahead by the State Council in March 1986. The Ministry of Astronautics signed a contract in 1987 to co-develop the DFH-3 with DASA (now the Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG), the first high-profile programme for Chinese co-operation with a foreign company in the field of space technology.
The development of the DFH-3 took over eight years to complete. DASA provided overall design guidance, as well as contributed the apogee kick stage and components for the communications antennas and solar array mechanism. The DFH-3 was too heavy for the 1,400kg-payload Changzheng 3 launcher and as a result the Changzheng 3A launcher with a GTO payload capability of 2,600kg was introduced.
A total of two commercial and four military DFH-3 communications satellites were successfully launched between 1997 and 2010. Additionally, the DFH-3 satellite bus (including the improved DFH-3A and DFH-3B) had been used on 10 Beidou navigation satellites, two Tianlian 1 data relay satellites, and two Chang’e lunar exploration probes by 2011.
The Satellite
The DFH-3 was a geostationary, three-axis-stabilised satellite, with two large solar panels. It had a power supply of 2kW and a designed lifespan of eight years. The telemetry system was in the C-band. The box-shaped DFH-3 bore some resemblance to the GE Astro Space 5000 series spacecraft. The 2,200kg satellite consisted of service section, propulsion section, and communications section, and could be equipped with a variety of payloads for different purposes. When used for communications, the satellite could carry 24 C-band transponders, providing 6 television channels and 18 communications transmission channels.
- Gross mass: 2,230kg
- Empty mass: 1,130kg
- Height: 1.7m
- Solar panel wingspan: 18.10m
Dongfanghong 3
Chronology
1994-11-30 - Launch site: Xichang. Launch complex: XSLC-LC2. Launch vehicle: CZ-3A
- Chinasat 5 – Role: Telecommunications. Programme: CHINASAT. Spacecraft: DFH-3. Mass: 2,260kg. Contractor: CAST. Operator: China Satellite Communications Co. Ltd. Summary: The first DFH-3 communications satellite. The satellite entered GTO as planned. However, there was a fuel leakage on the German-supplied apogee kick stage. As a result the satellite failed to reach its intended position in the GEO before consuming all of its fuel. The satellite entered a sub-geosynchronous orbit where the spacecraft was declared lost.
1997-05-12 - Launch site: Xichang. Launch complex: XSLC-LC2. Launch vehicle: CZ-3A
- Chinasat 6 – Role: Telecommunications. Programme: CHINASAT. Spacecraft: DFH-3. Mass: 2,260kg. Contractor: CAST. Operator: China Satellite Communications Co. Ltd. Summary: The satellite was successfully positioned in the GEO at 125°E.
2000-01-26 - Launch site: Xichang. Launch complex: XSLC-LC2. Launch vehicle: CZ-3A
- Chinasat 22 (Fenghuo 1 No.1) – Role: Military communications. Programme: Fenghuo. Spacecraft: DFH-3A. Mass: 2,300kg. Contractor: CAST. Operator: PLA. Summary: Known as Fenghuo 1 in its military name, this was the first-generation tactical military commuinications satellite to provide Communications-on-the-Move (COTM) capability. The satellite carried Ku- and Ka-band transponders for VHF data and voice communications and was positioned in the GEO at 98°E.
2003-11-14 - Launch site: Xichang. Launch complex: XSLC-LC2. Launch vehicle: CZ-3A
- Chinasat 20 (Shentong 1 No.1) – Role: Military communications. Programme: Shentong. Spacecraft: DFH-3A. Mass: 2,300kg. Contractor: CAST. Operator: PLA. Summary: Known as Shentong 1 in its military name, this was the first-generation strategic military communications satellite to provide secured voice/data communications services. The three-axis stabilised satellite featured a number of new technologies, including the first Chinese satellite to provide the Ku-band communication; the first to use the advanced multiple steerable spot beam antenna technology to enable ground users to communicate while on the move; the first to use secured uplink transmission for satellite antenna control; and the most powerful onboard data processing capability. The satellite was positioned in the GEO at 103°E.
2007-06-01 - Launch site: Xichang. Launch complex: XSLC-LC2. Launch vehicle: CZ-3A
- SINOSAT 3 – Launch date: Role: Telecommunications. Programme: SINOSAT. Spacecraft: DFH-3A. Mass: 2,300kg. Contractor: CAST. Operator: SINOSAT. Summary: Commercial direct-broadcast telecommunications satellite with 10 C-band 36MHz transponders and anti-jamming capability, positioned at 125°E in the GEO.
2009-09-12 - Launch site: Xichang. Launch complex: XSLC-LC2. Launch vehicle: CZ-3A
- Chinasat 22A (Fenghuo 1 No.2) – Role: Military communications. Programme: Fenghuo. Spacecraft: DFH-3A. Mass: 2,300kg. Contractor: CAST. Operator: PLA. Summary: Second Fenghuo 1 satellite to replace Chinasat 22 launched in 2000, positioned at 98°E in the GEO.
2010-11-25 - Launch site: Xichang. Launch complex: XSLC-LC2. Launch vehicle: CZ-3A
- Chinasat 20A (Shentong 1 No.2) – Role: Military communications. Programme: Shentong. Spacecraft: DFH-3A. Mass: 2,300kg. Contractor: CAST. Operator: PLA. Summary: Second Shentong 1 satellite to replace Chinasat 20 launched in 2003, positioned at 103°E in the GEO.
Last updated: 3 April 2012