Apstar 7

{{Short description|Chinese communications satellite}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Apstar 7

| image =

| image_caption =

| mission_type = Communication

| operator = APT Satellite

| website = {{url|http://www.apstar.com/en/apstar-fleet/apstar-7/}}

| COSPAR_ID = 2012-013A

| SATCAT = 38107

| mission_duration = 15 years

| spacecraft_bus = Spacebus-4000C2

| manufacturer = Thales Alenia Space

| dry_mass =

| launch_mass = {{convert|5054|kg}}

| power =

| launch_date = {{start-date|31 March 2012, 10:27|timezone=yes}} UTC

| launch_rocket = Chang Zheng 3B/E

| launch_site = Xichang LC-2

| launch_contractor =

| entered_service =

| disposal_type =

| deactivated =

| orbit_epoch = 19 December 2013, 16:37:15 UTC{{cite web|url=http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=38107|title=APSTAR 7 Satellite details 2012-013A NORAD 38107|work=N2YO|date=19 December 2013|accessdate=20 December 2013}}

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Geostationary

| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|35784|km|mi}}

| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|35802|km|mi}}

| orbit_inclination = 0.04 degrees

| orbit_period = 23.93 hours

| orbit_longitude = 76.5° East

| orbit_slot =

| apsis = gee

| trans_band =

| trans_frequency =

| trans_bandwidth =

| trans_capacity =

| trans_coverage =

| trans_TWTA =

| trans_EIRP =

| trans_HPBW =

}}

Apstar-7 is a Chinese communications satellite which is operated by APT Satellite as part of the Apstar system. It was launched in 2012 as a replacement for the Apstar 2R satellite launched in 1997.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/03/chinese-long-march-3be-launches-apstar-7/|title=Chinese Long March 3B/E launches Apstar-7|date=31 March 2012|first=Rui C.|last=Barbosa|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|accessdate=4 May 2012}}

Apstar-7 was constructed by Thales Alenia Space, and is based on the Spacebus-4000C2 satellite bus. The satellite had a mass at launch of {{convert|5054|kg}}, and is expected to operate for at least 15 years.{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/apstar-7.htm|title=APStar 7, 7B|work=Gunter's Space Page|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|accessdate=4 May 2012}} It is positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 76.5 degrees East, and carries 56 transponders with an operating power of 8.4 kilowatts; 28 operating in the C band and providing services to Asia, Africa, eastern and central Europe and Australia and the other 28 operating in the {{Ku band}}, covering Africa, the Middle East, China, and Taiwan.{{cite web|url=http://www.apstar.com/apt_apstar/basic.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505023400/http://www.apstar.com/apt_apstar/basic.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2012 |title=APSTAR-7 system characteristics |publisher=APT Satellite Holdings |accessdate=4 May 2012 }} The satellite's solar arrays generate 11.4 kilowatts of power.

Apstar-7 was launched by a Long March 3B/E carrier rocket, flying from Launch Complex 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. Liftoff took place at 10:27 UTC on 31 March 2012, with the rocket placing the satellite into a supersynchronous transfer orbit.{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.656|title=Issue 656|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|work=Jonathan's Space Report|date=12 April 2012|accessdate=4 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206092654/http://planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.656|archive-date=6 December 2012|url-status=dead}}