NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

VENESAT 1

Launch Time
Wed Oct 29, 2008 16:53 UTC

Rocket

Long March 3B/E
Image Credit: CASC
CASC
Status: Active
Price: $29.15 million
Liftoff Thrust: 5,986 kN
Payload to LEO: 11,500 kg
Payload to GTO: 5,550 kg
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 4
Rocket Height: 56.3 m
Fairing Diameter: 4.2 m
Fairing Height: 9.56 m

Mission Details

VENESAT 1

Under an agreement signed in November 2005, the China Great Wall Industry Corp was contracted to design, manufacture, test, and put into orbit the VENESAT-1 for Venezuela.

The satellite will help Venezuela develop its telecommunications, film and TV industries, culture, and education. The planned telecommunications satellite blasted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Southwest China atop a CZ-3B/G2 rocket. The satellite, designed with a mission life of 15 years, was constructed by the China Academy of Space Technology, based on the country's DFH-4 Bus, China's new-generation telecommunications satellite platform. The satellite is also called the "Simon Bolivar Satellite," named after the Caracas-born South American independence hero, the Liberator of Five Republics, according to Tenorio.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 5,049.0 kg
Geostationary Transfer Orbit

Location

LC-2, Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China

Stats

2008

57th orbital launch attempt

Long March 3

40th mission
3rd mission of 2008
35th successful mission
26th consecutive successful mission