# AsiaSat 9

> asiaSat communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q18485617](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18485617)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AsiaSat_9)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/asiasat-9

## Summary

AsiaSat 9 is a communications satellite operated by AsiaSat and launched on September 28, 2017, from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200 aboard a Proton-M rocket. With a mass of 6,140 kilograms, it operates in geostationary orbit and serves telecommunications purposes, carrying the satellite catalog number 42942 (COSPAR ID 2017-057A).

## Key Facts

- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 42942
- **COSPAR ID:** 2017-057A
- **Mass:** 6,140 kilograms
- **Operator:** AsiaSat
- **Manufacturer:** Lanteris Space Systems
- **Launch Date:** September 28, 2017
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200
- **Launch Vehicle:** Proton-M (Russian heavy lift launch vehicle)
- **Upper Stage/Space Tug:** Briz-M
- **Orbital Position:** Geostationary orbit
- **Classification:** Communications satellite, artificial satellite of the Earth
- **Wikipedia Languages:** German (de), English (en), Portuguese (pt), Russian (ru)
- **Wikidata Description:** AsiaSat communications satellite
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/12qbh0fpq

## FAQs

**What type of satellite is AsiaSat 9?**

AsiaSat 9 is a communications satellite designed for telecommunications purposes, operating in geostationary orbit to provide broadcast and communication services.

**Who built and launched AsiaSat 9?**

AsiaSat 9 was manufactured by Lanteris Space Systems and launched by a Proton-M rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200 in Kazakhstan on September 28, 2017. The launch used a Briz-M upper stage to place the satellite into its final orbit.

**How heavy is AsiaSat 9?**

AsiaSat 9 has a mass of 6,140 kilograms, making it a heavy communications satellite designed for long-term orbital operations.

**What is the orbital destination of AsiaSat 9?**

AsiaSat 9 operates in geostationary orbit, meaning it orbits the Earth at the same rotational speed as the planet, remaining fixed relative to a point on the Earth's surface.

**What launch vehicle family does AsiaSat 9 use?**

AsiaSat 9 was launched aboard Proton-M, which belongs to the Proton family of Soviet/Russian launch vehicles—a well-established heavy lift launch vehicle series.

## Why It Matters

AsiaSat 9 represents a significant investment in global telecommunications infrastructure for the Asia-Pacific region. As a communications satellite operated by AsiaSat, it provides essential broadcast, telecommunications, and data services to a vast coverage area. The satellite's placement in geostationary orbit ensures consistent, reliable communication services for television broadcasting, telephone communications, internet connectivity, and data transmission across multiple time zones.

The launch of AsiaSat 9 demonstrates the continued reliance on Russian launch capabilities for delivering heavy communications satellites to orbit. The Proton-M rocket, a proven heavy lift vehicle, successfully delivered the 6,140-kilogram satellite to its intended orbital position, showcasing the reliability of international launch services for commercial satellite operators. This mission contributes to expanding and modernizing the telecommunications infrastructure serving millions of users throughout Asia.

## Notable For

- One of the communications satellites in AsiaSat's operational fleet
- Launched aboard the reliable Proton-M heavy lift launch vehicle
- Operates in geostationary orbit providing continuous coverage
- Part of the Proton launch vehicle family's extensive launch history (51 related launches)
- Multi-language Wikipedia presence (German, English, Portuguese, Russian)

## Body

### Overview and Classification

AsiaSat 9 is classified as a communications satellite and an artificial satellite of the Earth. It is specifically designed for telecommunications purposes, serving as part of AsiaSat's fleet of orbital assets providing broadcast and communication services. The satellite holds the official satellite catalog number 42942 and carries the COSPAR identifier 2017-057A, which is used for tracking and identification in international space registries.

### Technical Specifications

The satellite has a mass of 6,140 kilograms, placing it in the heavy communications satellite category. This substantial mass reflects the extensive payload of communication equipment, transponders, and supporting systems required to provide reliable telecommunications services across its coverage area. The satellite operates in geostationary orbit, a position approximately 35,786 kilometers above Earth's equator where the satellite's orbital period matches Earth's rotational period, allowing it to remain fixed relative to a specific location on Earth's surface.

### Launch Details

AsiaSat 9 was launched on September 28, 2017, from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200 in Kazakhstan. The launch vehicle chosen for this mission was the Proton-M, a Russian heavy lift launch vehicle developed and operated by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. The Proton-M represents the modernized version of the Proton launch vehicle family, which has been a cornerstone of Soviet and Russian space launch capabilities since the 1960s.

The mission utilized the Briz-M as an upper stage or space tug. The Briz-M is designed to perform multiple burns and precisely deliver payloads to their intended orbital destinations. After separation from the Proton-M rocket, the Briz-M performed a series of burns to raise AsiaSat 9's orbit before releasing the satellite into its final geostationary transfer orbit.

### Launch Vehicle Heritage

The Proton-M launch vehicle belongs to the broader Proton family of launch vehicles, which originated in the Soviet Union and continues to be operated by Russia. The Proton family has a storied history dating back to the 1960s and has been used for both governmental and commercial missions. The Proton-M variant represents the modernized iteration of this proven launch vehicle, featuring improved reliability and performance characteristics. With 18 sitelinks connecting to related information, the Proton-M is recognized as a significant heavy lift launch system in the global space industry.

### Operator and Manufacturer

AsiaSat 9 is operated by AsiaSat, a leading satellite operator providing telecommunications services across the Asia-Pacific region. The satellite was manufactured by Lanteris Space Systems, a company involved in satellite construction and related space systems development. This mission represents a collaboration between the satellite operator, manufacturer, and launch service provider to deliver a functional communications asset to orbit.

### Digital Presence and References

AsiaSat 9 has a multilingual digital presence, with Wikipedia articles available in German, English, Portuguese, and Russian. This international coverage reflects the satellite's significance in providing communications services across multiple regions and language communities. The satellite is cataloged in Wikidata with the description "asiaSat communications satellite" and is linked to the Google Knowledge Graph with identifier /g/12qbh0fpq. The Wolfram language entity code Entity["Satellite", "42942"] provides another reference point for computational knowledge systems.

### Related Satellite Classes

AsiaSat 9 belongs to several important categories within the space systems taxonomy. As a communications satellite, it joins a class of 66 related satellites designed specifically for telecommunications applications. As an artificial satellite of the Earth, it is part of a broader category encompassing 9 related spacecraft orbiting our planet. These classifications help contextualize AsiaSat 9 within the larger ecosystem of orbital assets serving human communication needs.

### Significance in Space Operations

The successful launch and operation of AsiaSat 9 represents the continuation of commercial satellite deployment using proven Russian launch infrastructure. The mission demonstrates the reliability of the Proton-M launch system for delivering valuable communications payloads to orbit. For AsiaSat, the satellite expands their operational capacity to provide telecommunications services, supporting broadcast television, telephone services, internet connectivity, and data communications for customers throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report