# Dong Fang Hong 3

> family of Chinese communications satellites

**Wikidata**: [Q5813405](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5813405)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dong-fang-hong-3

## Summary
Dong Fang Hong 3 (DFH-3) is a family of communications satellites developed in the People's Republic of China. It serves as a spacecraft family classified under artificial satellites designed specifically for telecommunications. The family includes specific units such as the Dong Fang Hong-3 1 and the Dongfanghong-3 2.

## Key Facts
*   **Entity Type:** Spacecraft family (instance of).
*   **Classification:** Subclass of communications satellite.
*   **Country of Origin:** People's Republic of China.
*   **Aliases:** DFH-3.
*   **Notable Member (Lost):** Dong Fang Hong-3 1, a Chinese communications satellite that was lost due to an apogee motor failure.
*   **Notable Member (Operational):** Dongfanghong-3 2, identified as a Chinese communications satellite.
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/121dchjs.
*   **Language Availability:** Wikipedia entries exist in Spanish (es) and Galician (gl).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary function of the Dong Fang Hong 3?
A: The Dong Fang Hong 3 is a family of spacecraft designed specifically for telecommunications purposes. As a subclass of communications satellites, its role is to support artificial satellite-based communication systems.

### Q: Which country developed the Dong Fang Hong 3?
A: The Dong Fang Hong 3 spacecraft family originated in the People's Republic of China.

### Q: Were all satellites in the Dong Fang Hong 3 family successful?
A: No. According to available records, the first unit, Dong Fang Hong-3 1, was lost due to an apogee motor failure. A second unit, Dongfanghong-3 2, is also part of this family.

## Why It Matters
The Dong Fang Hong 3 (DFH-3) family represents a specific stage in the development of Chinese space technology dedicated to telecommunications. As a distinct spacecraft family, it illustrates the engineering efforts of the People's Republic of China to establish robust satellite communication capabilities. The existence of this family highlights the progression from earlier designs to more specialized telecommunications platforms.

While the program faced setbacks, notably the loss of the Dong Fang Hong-3 1 due to apogee motor failure, the continuation of the family with the Dongfanghong-3 2 unit demonstrates the persistence of the program's objectives. These satellites are fundamental to the infrastructure that enables long-distance communication, data transmission, and broadcasting capabilities within the region and potentially beyond. The DFH-3 platform serves as a lineage marker in the history of Chinese aerospace engineering, bridging the gap between initial experimental satellites and more modern, high-capacity communication systems.

## Notable For
*   Being a recognized **family of Chinese communications satellites**.
*   Containing the **Dong Fang Hong-3 1**, which is notable for being lost due to a specific technical failure (apogee motor failure).
*   Serving as a key **subclass of communications satellites** within the Chinese space program.
*   Operating under the official designation alias **DFH-3**.

## Body
### Origin and Classification
The Dong Fang Hong 3, often abbreviated as **DFH-3**, is a spacecraft family that originated in the **People's Republic of China**. It is technically classified as an "instance of" a spacecraft family and a "subclass of" communications satellite. This classification places it within the broader category of artificial satellites utilized for telecommunications.

### Associated Spacecraft
The Dong Fang Hong 3 family comprises specific satellite units with distinct histories:

*   **Dong Fang Hong-3 1:** This unit was a Chinese communications satellite. It failed to reach its intended operational status after being lost due to an **apogee motor failure**.
*   **Dongfanghong-3 2:** This entity is listed as a Chinese communications satellite and is a member of the Dong Fang Hong 3 family.

### Identifiers and Data
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/121dchjs
*   **Wikidata Description:** "family of Chinese communications satellites"
*   **Wikipedia Presence:** The entity is documented in Spanish (es) and Galician (gl) language sections.