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Constellations
Constellation profile

Zhongxing / ChinaSat GEO fleet

Zhongxing/ChinaSat geostationary communications spacecraft fleet.

China Satellite Communications Co., Ltd. (China Satcom)Service start: Not stated
Admin Edit
Linked spacecraft
26
Rows currently linked to this constellation.
Active linked
13
Derived from linked spacecraft status.
Future linked
0
Spacecraft rows marked future.
Planned target

Forecasted Satellites

0 forecast rows linked to this constellation.

0 satellitesUnknownForecast table
Forecast entryYearSatellitesOrbitVehicleManufacturerMissionLaunch likelihood

Linked Spacecraft

26 linked spacecraft shown.

SpacecraftStatusOrbitLaunch date
Shi Jian 13activeGEOApr 12, 2017
Zhongxing 10activeGEOJun 20, 2011
Zhongxing 10R
Not stated
No active-share calculation available.

No forecast rows

No public forecast rows are currently linked to this constellation.

No forecast rows

No public forecast rows are currently linked to this constellation.

active
GEO
Feb 22, 2025
Zhongxing 11activeGEOMay 1, 2013
Zhongxing 12activeGEONov 27, 2012
Zhongxing 19activeGEONov 5, 2022
Zhongxing 26activeGEOFeb 23, 2023
Zhongxing 6CactiveGEOMar 9, 2019
Zhongxing 6DactiveGEOApr 15, 2022
Zhongxing 6EactiveGEONov 9, 2023
Zhongxing 9activeGEOJun 9, 2008
Zhongxing 9BactiveGEOSep 9, 2021
Zhongxing 9CactiveGEOJun 20, 2025
Shiyan Tongbu Tongxin Wx.retiredGEOApr 8, 1984
Shiyan WeixingretiredMEOJan 29, 1984
Shiyong Tongbu Tongxin Wx.retiredGEOFeb 1, 1986
Zhongxing 1retiredGEOMar 7, 1988
Zhongxing 18retiredHEOAug 19, 2019
Zhongxing 2retiredGEODec 22, 1988
Zhongxing 3retiredGEOFeb 4, 1990
Zhongxing 4retiredHEODec 28, 1991
Zhongxing 6retiredGEOMay 11, 1997
Zhongxing 6AretiredGEOSep 4, 2010
Zhongxing 6BretiredGEOJul 5, 2007
Zhongxing 7retiredMEOAug 18, 1996
Zhongxing 9AretiredGEOJun 18, 2017
Shi Jian 13
GEO · Apr 12, 2017
active
Zhongxing 10
GEO · Jun 20, 2011
active
Zhongxing 10R
GEO · Feb 22, 2025
active
Zhongxing 11
GEO · May 1, 2013
active
Zhongxing 12
GEO · Nov 27, 2012
active
Zhongxing 19
GEO · Nov 5, 2022
active
Zhongxing 26
GEO · Feb 23, 2023
active
Zhongxing 6C
GEO · Mar 9, 2019
active
Zhongxing 6D
GEO · Apr 15, 2022
active
Zhongxing 6E
GEO · Nov 9, 2023
active
Zhongxing 9
GEO · Jun 9, 2008
active
Zhongxing 9B
GEO · Sep 9, 2021
active
Zhongxing 9C
GEO · Jun 20, 2025
active
Shiyan Tongbu Tongxin Wx.
GEO · Apr 8, 1984
retired
Shiyan Weixing
MEO · Jan 29, 1984
retired
Shiyong Tongbu Tongxin Wx.
GEO · Feb 1, 1986
retired
Zhongxing 1
GEO · Mar 7, 1988
retired
Zhongxing 18
HEO · Aug 19, 2019
retired
Zhongxing 2
GEO · Dec 22, 1988
retired
Zhongxing 3
GEO · Feb 4, 1990
retired
Zhongxing 4
HEO · Dec 28, 1991
retired
Zhongxing 6
GEO · May 11, 1997
retired
Zhongxing 6A
GEO · Sep 4, 2010
retired
Zhongxing 6B
GEO · Jul 5, 2007
retired
Zhongxing 7
MEO · Aug 18, 1996
retired
Zhongxing 9A
GEO · Jun 18, 2017
retired
Track
Mentions
42
All verified mentions of this constellation in source documents.

ChinaSat-20A is a standard communications platform that occasionally moves to service different regions or adjust to user demand.

CapabilityGeneralValue 2.0May 4, 2026In Defence of Canada Briefing (Issue 8)

ChinaSat 9A launched in June 2017 experienced a partial failure due to the loss of 3rd stage RCS roll control during the coast phase.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Jan 17, 2026* PALAPA-D (Aug. 2009, partial fail) - gas generator LH2 inlet blockage & subsequent leak * ChinaSat 9A (Jun. 2017, partial fail) - loss of 3rd stage RCS roll control during coast phase * PALAPA-N1 (Apr. 2020) - 3rd stage engine ignitor failure

ChinaSat-26, China’s first satellite providing more than 100 gigabits per second (Gbps), was launched in February 2023.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.6Feb 29, 2024China launches first high orbit internet satellite

China operates a series of ChinaSat (Zhongxing) geostationary communications satellites with CASC directly involved in the joint venture.

RelationshipsGeneralValue 3.8Feb 29, 2024China launches first high orbit internet satellite

ChinaSat-6E is a C-band, Ku-band and other multiband broadcast communications satellite based on the DFH-4E bus developed by the China Academy of Space Technology.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.2Nov 9, 2023Long March 3B launches ChinaSat-6E communications satellite

A Long March 3B launched ChinaSat-6D in April 2022 to replace ChinaSat-6A, which suffered a lifetime-shortening helium leak after launch.

PlanGeneralLegalValue 4.0Nov 9, 2023Long March 3B launches ChinaSat-6E communications satellite

ChinaSat-6B was launched in July 2007 and was positioned at 115.5° East.

GeneralCapabilityValue 4.0Nov 9, 2023Long March 3B launches ChinaSat-6E communications satellite

ChinaSat-9C is expected to launch in 2025 to replace ChinaSat-9, which was launched in 2008.

PlanGeneralValue 3.8Nov 9, 2023Long March 3B launches ChinaSat-6E communications satellite

China launched the ChinaSat-6E communications satellite toward geostationary orbit from Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.2Nov 9, 2023Long March 3B launches ChinaSat-6E communications satellite

Zhongxing-16 has supplied connectivity to aviation passengers such as Sichuan Airlines’ Airbus A320 flights using Viasat in-flight connectivity equipment.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.0Feb 23, 2023China launches high-capacity communications satellite after 39-day pause

The 94 Ka-band user beams on Zhongxing-26 are 3.5 times more than the 26-beam, 20 Gbps Dongfanghong-3B-based Zhongxing-16 launched in 2017.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Feb 23, 2023China launches high-capacity communications satellite after 39-day pause

Viasat’s IFC system, in cooperation with China Satellite Communications Co. Ltd. (China Satcom), connects with the Ka-band ChinaSat-16 satellite system to provide video streaming, browsing, messaging, and social media to connected devices on Viasat-equipped aircraft operating over China.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.0Jan 10, 2023CAAC Validation for Viasat’s Ka-Band In-flight Connectivity Integration Issued for Boeing 737 Series Aircraft

Viasat’s in-flight connectivity equipment operates over the Ka-band ChinaSat-16 satellite system.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Nov 22, 2021Viasat’s Mobility Network in China Now Operational and Ready to Serve Airlines’ In-Flight Connectivity Needs when Flying Into, Over and Out of China

ChinaSat-18 was effectively lost as its orbit slowly decayed at approximately 184 by 32,330 km.

GeneralValue 4.0Oct 19, 2021A Chinese satellite is now active weeks after an anomaly during launch

A 2019 Long March 3B flight inserted ChinaSat-18 into geosynchronous transfer orbit, and ChinaSat-18 later functioned abnormally with its orbit slowly decaying at about 184 by 32,330 km.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Oct 19, 2021A Chinese satellite is now active weeks after an anomaly during launch

ChinaSat-18 (Zhongxing-18) remains in geosynchronous transfer orbit after an issue suffered following its August 2019 launch.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.6Sep 27, 2021Classified satellite declared lost after China launches twice in 2 hours

China Satcom manages and operates 15 satellites in orbit, including ChinaSat and Apstar series satellites.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Sep 9, 2021China launches ChinaSat-9B broadcast satellite

Gilat’s SkyEdge II-c X-Architecture operates over China Satcom’s HTS Ka-band network ChinaSat-16 and provides multiple switchovers between satellite beams.

CapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.0Dec 14, 2020Gilat To Equip Hundreds Of Vessels In Asia With SATCOM Services

ChinaSat-18 was lost in August 2019 due to a spacecraft power failure immediately after launch.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jul 9, 2020Apstar-6D launches on Long March 3B rocket

The DFH-4E-based Zhongxing-18 (ChinaSat-18) suffered a mission failure in August 2019 when attempts to communicate with the satellite did not succeed despite a successful launch.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.5Jun 30, 2020Final Beidou-3 satellite reaches operational orbit, China’s launch sites gear up for July missions
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