China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) officially announced yesterday the start of operational services for China’s first electric-propulsion communications satellite (UPSTAR-6E), after a technical review of the orbital and ground system in Hong Kong.
The Upstar-6E is a geostationary satellite based on the DFH-3E satellite platform, with a designed lifespan of 15 years. “This satellite is the first of the DFH-3E series, and is the world’s first communications satellite to achieve a fully independent orbit transfer from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit,” the company said in a statement.
The satellite was launched by a Long March-2C carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on January 13, 2023. After separating from the independent propulsion module, the satellite was transferred to the synchronous orbit by two electric propulsion systems.
This satellite is primarily used to provide high-throughput and affordable broadband communications services to the Southeast Asia region.
