# ChinaSat 9

> Chinese communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q746585](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q746585)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChinaSat_9)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chinasat-9

## Summary
ChinaSat 9 (also known as Zhongxing 9 or ZX-9) is a Chinese geostationary communications satellite launched on June 9, 2008. Manufactured by Alcatel Alenia Space in France and operated by the China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corporation, it has a launch mass of 4,500 kg and a design life of 15 years.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** June 9, 2008, at 12:15:04 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Long March 3B (serial number Y11).
- **Launch Site:** Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
- **Manufacturer:** Alcatel Alenia Space (France).
- **Operator:** China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corporation (People's Republic of China).
- **Platform:** Spacebus-4000C2.
- **Mass:** 4,500 kg (launch weight).
- **Design Life:** 15 years.
- **Orbit:** Geostationary orbit.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 2008-028A; SCN 33051.

## FAQs
### Q: Who manufactured the ChinaSat 9 satellite?
A: ChinaSat 9 was manufactured by the French company Alcatel Alenia Space. While it is operated by the People's Republic of China, its country of origin for manufacturing purposes is France.

### Q: When and how was ChinaSat 9 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on June 9, 2008, using a Long March 3B rocket (variant Y11) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

### Q: What is the operational lifespan of ChinaSat 9?
A: The satellite was designed with a service life of 15 years.

## Why It Matters
ChinaSat 9 serves as a critical asset in China's national telecommunications infrastructure. As a heavy-lift communications satellite with a launch mass of 4,500 kg, it represents a significant investment in space-based broadcast capabilities. Its placement in geostationary orbit allows it to provide stable, continuous coverage to the region.

The satellite is notable for its use of the Spacebus-4000C2 platform, a high-power satellite bus developed by Alcatel Alenia Space. This choice highlights the international cooperation often present in the space industry, where a European manufacturer provided the core technology for a Chinese national operator. The successful deployment via the Long March 3B rocket further demonstrates the reliability of China's heavy-lift launch capabilities for inserting large payloads into geostationary transfer orbits.

## Notable For
- Being based on the **Spacebus-4000C2** platform, a prominent European satellite bus design.
- A substantial **launch mass of 4,500 kg**, classifying it as a large communications satellite.
- Utilizing **S400** propulsion systems (quantity: 1) alongside two solar arrays for power and maneuvering.
- Being identified by multiple aliases, including **Zhongxing 9** and **ZX-9**.
- Launching aboard the **Long March 3B**, a workhorse of the Chinese space program.

## Body
### Technical Specifications
ChinaSat 9 utilizes the **Spacebus-4000C2** spacecraft bus. It has a total launch mass of **4,500 kilograms**. The satellite's power system includes a **spacecraft solar array** (quantity: 2) and utilizes an **S400** unit (quantity: 1) for propulsion. The satellite was designed to operate for **15 years**.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite was successfully launched on **June 9, 2008**, at **12:15:04** UTC. The mission employed a **Long March 3B** rocket (specifically the Y11 variant) lifting off from the **Xichang Satellite Launch Center**. The launch placed the satellite into a trajectory to reach its operational **geostationary orbit**.

### Identity and Classification
ChinaSat 9 is classified as a **communications satellite** and a **geostationary satellite**. It holds the COSPAR ID **2008-028A** and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) **33051**.

### Operational Context
The satellite is operated by the **China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corporation** under the administration of the **People's Republic of China**. Despite being a Chinese national asset, the **country of origin** for the satellite's manufacturing is listed as **France**. It is widely recognized by several aliases, including **ChinaSat-9**, **Zhongxing 9**, **ZX 9**, **ZX-9**, and the Chinese characters **中星九號**.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/zx-9.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013