China Great Wall Industry Corporation and China Satellite Communications Corporation signed on Nov. 9 a cooperation contract on launching Chinasat 9 with Long March 3B rocket.

According to the contract, China Great Wall Industry Corporation, as the general contractor, will undertake the launch of Chinasat 9 in collaboration with China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology affiliated with China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and China satellite launch headquarters.

It is expected that the satellite will be launched in the second half of 2007.

Chinasat 9 will adopt French Al-catel Alenia Space's SB4000 series satellite platform, which is a high-power, highly reliable TV broadcast satellite with long lifespan.

The satellite will, along with Dongfanghong (Red East) 4, build up China's live broadcast satellite system.

Long March 3B carrier rocket is China's largest in terms of Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) capability. It can send 5,100-kg useful load into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

Till now, it has succeeded in five launches in a row.

Since October 1996, Long March serial carrier rockets have launched 46 times successfully and their high reliability has won wide recognition in the international market.

By People's Daily Online