Apstar 7

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title: "Apstar 7" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["spacecraft-launched-in-2012", "communications-satellites-of-china", "satellites-using-the-spacebus-bus", "2012-in-china", "spacecraft-launched-by-long-march-rockets"] description: "Chinese communications satellite" topic_path: "geography/china" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apstar_7" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Chinese communications satellite ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox spaceflight"]

Field	Value
name	Apstar 7
mission_type	Communication
operator	APT Satellite
website
COSPAR_ID	2012-013A
SATCAT	38107
mission_duration	15 years
spacecraft_bus	Spacebus-4000C2
manufacturer	Thales Alenia Space
launch_mass	5054 kg
launch_date	UTC
launch_rocket	Chang Zheng 3B/E
launch_site	Xichang LC-2
deactivated
orbit_epoch	19 December 2013, 16:37:15 UTC
orbit_reference	Geocentric
orbit_regime	Geostationary
orbit_periapsis	35784 km
orbit_apoapsis	35802 km
orbit_inclination	0.04 degrees
orbit_period	23.93 hours
orbit_longitude	76.5° East
apsis	gee
::

| name = Apstar 7 | image = | image_caption =

| mission_type = Communication | operator = APT Satellite | website = | COSPAR_ID = 2012-013A | SATCAT = 38107 | mission_duration = 15 years

| spacecraft_bus = Spacebus-4000C2 | manufacturer = Thales Alenia Space | dry_mass = | launch_mass = 5054 kg | power =

| launch_date = UTC | launch_rocket = Chang Zheng 3B/E | launch_site = Xichang LC-2 | launch_contractor = | entered_service =

| disposal_type = | deactivated =

| orbit_epoch = 19 December 2013, 16:37:15 UTC | orbit_reference = Geocentric | orbit_regime = Geostationary | orbit_periapsis = 35784 km | orbit_apoapsis = 35802 km | orbit_inclination = 0.04 degrees | orbit_period = 23.93 hours | orbit_longitude = 76.5° East | orbit_slot = | apsis = gee

| trans_band = | trans_frequency = | trans_bandwidth = | trans_capacity = | trans_coverage = | trans_TWTA = | trans_EIRP = | trans_HPBW = Apstar-7 is a Chinese communications satellite which is operated by APT Satellite as part of the Apstar system. It was launched in 2012 as a replacement for the Apstar 2R satellite launched in 1997.

Apstar-7 was constructed by Thales Alenia Space, and is based on the Spacebus-4000C2 satellite bus. The satellite had a mass at launch of 5054 kg, and is expected to operate for at least 15 years. It is positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 76.5 degrees East, and carries 56 transponders with an operating power of 8.4 kilowatts; 28 operating in the C band and providing services to Asia, Africa, eastern and central Europe and Australia and the other 28 operating in the , covering Africa, the Middle East, China, and Taiwan. The satellite's solar arrays generate 11.4 kilowatts of power.

Apstar-7 was launched by a Long March 3B/E carrier rocket, flying from Launch Complex 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. Liftoff took place at 10:27 UTC on 31 March 2012, with the rocket placing the satellite into a supersynchronous transfer orbit.

Operational history

Thales Alenia Space built Apstar-7 as an ITAR-free satellite, containing no restricted American components. The United States prohibits the export of satellite components when a Chinese launcher will be used. Ironically, the US Department of Defense leased bandwidth on Apstar-7 in May 2012 to improve communications with the U.S. Africa Command. In 2013, Thales Alenia was forced to discontinue its ITAR-free satellite line after US supplier Aeroflex admitted that it had sold them ITAR-controlled components.

References

References

1. (19 December 2013). "APSTAR 7 Satellite details 2012-013A NORAD 38107". N2YO.
2. Barbosa, Rui C.. (31 March 2012). "Chinese Long March 3B/E launches Apstar-7". NASASpaceflight.com.
3. Krebs, Gunter. "APStar 7, 7B". Gunter's Space Page.
4. "APSTAR-7 system characteristics". APT Satellite Holdings.
5. McDowell, Jonathan. (12 April 2012). "Issue 656". Jonathan's Space Report.
6. Clark, Stephen. (31 March 2012). "Chinese rocket lifts off with communications satellite". Spaceflight Now.
7. Capaccio, Tony. (29 April 2013). "Pentagon Using China Satellite for U.S.-Africa Command". Bloomberg.
8. (5 September 2013). "U.S. Satellite Component Maker Fined $8 Million for ITAR Violations". SpaceNews.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::