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DFH-3

The DFH-3 generation spacecraft, long in development, is much larger (more than one metric ton on-station) than the DFH-2, utilizing 3-axis stabilization and bearing a resemblance to the GE Astro Space 5000 series spacecraft. More importantly, the communications payload consists of up to 24 6/4 GHz transponders for both telephone and television transmissions. The design life of the DFH-3 is double that of DHF-2, i.e., eight years compared to four years.

To meet China's market demand for large capacity communications and broadcasting satellites, the Ministry of Astronautics signed a contract on the cooperation on the DFH-3 satellite with DASA (now the Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG) in 1987, the first large program for Chinese cooperation with a foreign country in satellite technology.

Due to its size the DFH-3 requires a more capable launch vehicle than the DFH-2's CZ-3. To this end the CZ-3A was first tested on 8 February 1994, successfully placing a dummy DFH-3 spacecraft and a small scientific satellite into GTO. Nearly 10 months later on 29 November, DFH-3 1 followed, entering GTO precisely as planned. Unfortunately; however, the German-supplied apogee kick stage malfunctioned, causing Chinese officials to use the spacecraft's propulsion system to lift the vehicle into a sub-geosynchronous orbit where the spacecraft was declared lost. (DASA also contributed components for the communications antennas and solar array mechanism as well as provide overall design guidance) (References 228-238).

DFH-3B (also called ChinaSat-6), which was launched in 1997, has experienced malfunctions in attitude stabilisation which resulted in excessive fuel consumption that may reduce its operational life.

REFERENCES

• 228. "Chinese Satellites", Aerospace Daily, 1 May 1989, p. 168.
• 229. "Chinese Satellite", Aviation Week and Space Technology, 2 October 1989, p. 15.
• 230. Zhongguo Xinwen She News Agency, 24 March 1993.
• 231. Central People's Broadcasting Station, 11 July 1993.
• 232. C. Covault, "Space Programs Surge in Asia/Pacific Region", Aviation Week and Space Technology, pp. 73-75.
• 233. "DFH-3 Launched", Aviation Week and Space Technology, 5 December 1994, p. 22.
• 234. "News Breaks", Aviation Week and Space Technology, 16 January 1995, p. 16.
• 235. "Loss of China's DFH-3 Tops Meeting Agenda", Space News, 6-12 Februry 1995, p. 2.
• 236. "Germans Prepare for Chinese Market", Space, September 1994, pp. 33-34.
• 237. "German-Chinese Satellite Company", Space, December 1993, p. 26.
• 238. P.B. de Seldinq, "Firm Seeks Slice of Chinese Satellite Market", Space News, 29 November - 5 December 1993, p.6.

Sources and Resources

• Potential and risks by Lin Sun, Asia-Pacific Satellite - April 1998
• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]

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