Polaris Intelligence

Launch Stack

Operator: China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
Launch Vehicle: Long March 3B
Launch Site: Launch Complex 2, Xichang Space Center (Xichang Space Center (Songlin), Sichuan, China)

Payload Summary

Payload Count: 1
Payload Status: retired 1
Payload Mission Types: Communications 1

Mentions

All verified mentions of this mission in source documents.

The first DFH-4 satellite, SinoSat-2, failed shortly after launch in 2006 because its solar arrays never fully opened.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.3Mar 30, 2020Solar array problem killed Venezuela’s VeneSat-1, officials confirm

Of 21 DFH-4-based satellites, two previously suffered solar array issues that led to their failures: NigComSat-1 in 2008 and SinoSat-2 in 2006.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.5Nov 19, 2019China Satcom files insurance claim over ChinaSat-18 loss

Of China’s 21 DFH-4-based satellites, NigComSat-1 in 2008 and SinoSat-2 in 2006 suffered solar array issues that led to their failures.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.4Aug 29, 2019$250 million ChinaSat-18 loss looming over insurers

Two of 21 DFH-4-based satellites previously launched suffered solar array issues that led to the failure of NigComSat-1 in 2008 and the loss of Xinnuo 2 (SinoSat-2) in 2006.

CapabilityValue 4.0Aug 20, 2019Chinese telecommunications satellite hit by anomalies after launch

Sinosat