| Spacecraft properties | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | January 26, 1995 |
| Rocket | Chang Zheng 2E |
| Launch site | Xichang LA-2 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 32 C band 8 Ku band |
| TWTA power | 52W (C band) 50-120W (Ku band) |
Apstar 2 was a communications satellite based on the Hughes HS-601 spacecraft design, built by Hughes Space and Communications Company for APT Satellite Holdings, a Hong Kong–based company.[1] The satellite was intended to provide video, radio, data, and telephone services to about 2/3 of the world's population. It was launched on January 26, 1995, by a Long March 2E launcher from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China, but was destroyed 50 seconds after liftoff when the rocket exploded. The failed rocket also veered off course after launch and killed at least six people on the ground.[2]
The Hughes Failure Investigation Team found that excess vibration had caused a rocket fairing to fail due to a structural deficiency. However, the Chinese blamed the rocket-satellite interface for the failure. The two sides agreed that the fairing and the satellite interface would both be improved.[3] The Long March 2E rocket would be retired at the end of 1995.