November 13, 2018 - China Launches Communication Satellite

The launch you're looking for actually took place on May 4, 2018, not November 13th. China launched the Apstar 6C communications satellite aboard a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province. The mission placed the satellite into geostationary orbit at 134° East, where it delivers C, Ku, and Ka-band services across Asia-Pacific markets. There's a lot more to this mission than just the launch date.

Key Takeaways

• China launched the Apstar 6C communications satellite on May 4, 2018, from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.
• The satellite was carried by a Long March 3B rocket, delivering Apstar 6C into geosynchronous orbit at 134° East.
• Apstar 6C, built on the DFH-4 platform by CAST, carries 45 transponders across C, Ku, and Ka bands.
• The satellite is operated by Hong Kong-based APT Satellite Company Ltd., with ground control based in Tai Po, Hong Kong.
• The mission marked CGWIC's 12th in-orbit satellite delivery and China's 13th orbital launch of 2018.

Long March 3B: China's Workhorse Rocket for Geostationary Missions

The Long March 3B stands as China's most powerful operational launch vehicle, purpose-built to haul heavy payloads into geostationary transfer orbit. You're looking at a three-stage rocket standing 56.3 meters tall, supported by four strap-on solid rocket boosters, and generating 5,924 kN of total liftoff thrust.

Its rocket heritage traces directly to the Long March 3A core stage, incorporating flight-proven hypergolic propellants in the lower stages and cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in the upper stage.

The enhanced 3B/E variant, introduced in 2007, improved payload integration efficiency by boosting GTO capacity from 5,100 to 5,500 kilograms.

That upgrade alone opened the door for deploying heavier communication and navigation satellites China increasingly required. The rocket also demonstrated its versatility beyond Earth orbit when it launched the Chang'e 3 lunar mission, carrying the Yutu rover to the Moon in 2013.

All Long March 3B missions lift off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, a facility nestled in Sichuan Province that has supported international scientific, commercial, and military satellite launches since the early 1980s. Much like the Silver Dart's first flight marked a foundational moment for Canadian aviation in 1909, each successful Long March 3B mission has contributed to establishing China's credibility as a major spacefaring nation.

Who Built and Operates Apstar 6C

Apstar 6C took shape at the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), built on the flight-proven DFH-4 satellite platform under a contract signed in October 2015 with China Great Wall Industry Corp. This China builder delivered the spacecraft to APT Satellite Company Ltd., a Hong Kong operator established in 1992.

APT Satellite manages the broader Apstar constellation, serving the Asia-Pacific region from its Tai Po ground station. Here's what defines this partnership:

• CAST serves as the manufacturer, leveraging the reliable DFH-4 platform
• APT Satellite operates the Hong Kong-based Apstar fleet
• Apstar 6C is APT's second DFH-4-based satellite
• APT's constellation covers 75% of the world's population
• Ground control operates from Tai Po, Hong Kong

The satellite was designed with a 15 year lifetime, positioning APT Satellite to deliver long-term communications services including VSAT, video distribution, DTH, and cellular backhaul across the Asia-Pacific region. CGWIC counted the successful in-orbit handover of Apstar 6C as its 12th satellite delivery to an international customer, reflecting the company's growing export record across eight countries and regions. Much like British officers in India who adapted practical gear from local culture into lasting traditions, CAST's engineers drew on decades of accumulated expertise to refine the DFH-4 platform design into one of the world's most dependable commercial satellite buses.

What Apstar 6C's Transponders and Bands Actually Do

Packed into Apstar 6C's payload are 45 transponders split across three frequency bands—C, Ku, and Ka—each serving distinct coverage zones and application types across the Asia-Pacific region.

The 26 C-band transponders handle VSAT and video distribution across Asia, Oceania, and Hawaii, while 19 Ku-band transponders deliver high-power DTH and cellular backhaul using beam shaping for targeted regional coverage.

Ka-band units drive capacity expansion through broadband and multimedia services. APT Satellite Holdings Ltd. operates the satellite, extending its fleet's reach across the Asia-Pacific market.

You'll notice each band applies different polarization schemes—C and Ku use dual linear polarization, while Ka employs dual circular polarization—reducing signal overlap and supporting interference mitigation across shared spectrum environments.

Together, these transponders maintain EIRP levels between 33 and 59 dBW, ensuring reliable connectivity for enterprise networks, broadcasting, and mobile communications throughout the region. The satellite was constructed by Alcatel Space, now known as Thales Alenia Space, and was designed with a planned operational lifespan of over 14 years. Much like the Birmingham maglev system, which demonstrated that modular, updatable components improve long-term reliability, satellite communication systems also depend on maintainable architectures to sustain consistent performance across extended operational lifespans.

Why Apstar 6C Is Positioned at 134 Degrees East

Orbital position isn't arbitrary—134° East places Apstar 6C directly over one of the most commercially valuable coverage zones on Earth.

This orbital slot delivers optimized visibility across Asia-Pacific's beachhead markets, protecting APT Satellite's regulatory rights while leveraging existing ground infrastructure.

Key advantages of 134° East include:

• Coverage reach spanning China, Southeast Asia, India, and Oceania
• Collocation with Apstar-6D and Apstar-6E maximizes capacity
• Regulatory rights secured through continuous occupancy since 2005
• Ground infrastructure compatibility reduces operational transition costs
• Spectrum continuity ensures uninterrupted transponder availability

You're looking at a slot APT Satellite's held for decades—one that directly supports TV broadcasting, broadband delivery, and telephony across the region's fastest-growing digital markets. The satellite was carried to this orbit aboard a Long March 3B launch vehicle, lifting off from China on May 4, 2018. Apstar-6E, the newest addition to the collocation strategy at this slot, completed its final orbital raising using ion and Hall thrusters before arriving at 134° East on July 9, 2024. The Asia-Pacific region is also driving demand beyond traditional satellite services, as the commercial space station market is projected to reach $12.93 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 16.7% between 2026 and 2030.

Which Regions and Customers Apstar 6C Serves

Across the Asia-Pacific region, Apstar 6C's 45 transponders deliver C-band, Ku-band, and Ka-band capacity to a diverse mix of broadcasters, enterprises, and telecom operators.

You'll find its C-band global beam supporting video distribution, DTH broadcasting, and news gathering across broad geographic footprints.

Its active Ku-band beams over China, Indochina, and Mongolia extend coverage directly to Asia Pacific SMEs running enterprise networks and VSAT services.

Telecom operators rely on its cellular and mobile backhaul capacity to expand connectivity into underserved areas, directly supporting Rural Connectivity Initiatives throughout the region.

Content delivery and distance education round out its service portfolio, making Apstar 6C a versatile resource for customers who need reliable, high-power satellite capacity across one of the world's most densely populated and commercially active regions. Its orbital position at 134°E places it alongside APSTAR-6D and APSTAR-6E, together providing substantial HTS capacity across the Asia-Pacific region.

The satellite's C-band footprint is catalogued under LyngSat Maps with coverage data focused on the Asia region, helping engineers and operators determine appropriate dish sizing based on expected EIRP values across the footprint. This geosynchronous positioning mirrors the global coverage architecture that enabled INTELSAT I to deliver continuous, uninterrupted transatlantic coverage when it launched in 1965, a model that redefined commercial satellite communication expectations worldwide.

China's 13th Launch of 2018 and What Apstar 6C Represents

When Apstar 6C lifted off on May 4, 2018, it marked China's 13th orbital launch of the year and the 5th from Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

Among 2018's China launches, this mission ranked as the 41st global space launch worldwide.

Its fleet significance is clear when you consider what it brings to APT Satellite's operations:

• Replaces Apstar-6 at 134° East GEO
• Joins four existing operational Apstar satellites
• Represents CGWIC's 12th in-orbit delivery program
• Demonstrates end-to-end service: design, build, launch, and delivery
• Marks the 2nd CAST-built satellite for APT after Apstar-9

You're looking at a mission that reflects China's growing commercial launch ambitions, with CASC planning 36 launches in 2018 and potentially exceeding 40 when including non-government providers. The satellite itself was built on the DFH-4 platform by the China Academy of Space Technology and is designed to operate for 15 years. Much like Oracle's early engineering strategy, which emphasized cross-platform compatibility to broaden market reach, Apstar 6C's multi-band payload is designed to serve diverse regional markets across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.