Apstar 2R

Long March 3B carried the Apstar 2R communications satellite for Hong Kong-based APT Satellite into geostationary transfer orbit from Xichang. It was only the 3B's second flight and its first success, restoring confidence after the type's catastrophic debut failure in February 1996.

Outcome

Success

Orbit

Direct-GEO

Geostationary orbit

Payload to orbit

3.7 T

Flight

3rd

of 24 Long March 3B flights

Date and time

16 October 1997, 19:13 UTC

Rocket

Long March 3B

Builder

CASC

Launch site

Launch Complex 2 (LC-2), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Payload

Communications

International designator

1997-062

Launches in 1997

64th of 89

See it in orbit

Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.

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