...via Long March 3B from Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 06:13 p.m., on November 27th, 2012. About 26 minutes after the rocket lift off, the data from Xi'an Satellite Monitoring Center revealed that the satellite had been successfully separated from the rocket and accurately entered into the geosynchronous transfer orbit with 207 kilometers at perigee, 50539 kilometers at apogee, and 26.8 degree orbital inclination.

ChinaSat-12 launch via a Long March 3B
Photo courtesy of China News

This launch mission was implemented according to the Launch Service Contract signed in July this year by China Great Wall Industry Group Co., Ltd., China Satellite Communications Co., Ltd. and Hong Kong APT Satellite Co.,Ltd. ChinaSat 12 will provide 24 C- and 23 Ku-band transponders to its commercial clients in Asia, Africa and Europe. It is China Satcom's 13th geostationary operating satellite. The Long March 3B is developed by the 2, which is a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. This is the 173rd Long March series rocket launch.

This satellite is jointly owned by China Satcom and the new satellite company in Sri Lanka, SupremeSat. Sri Lanka now joins India and Pakistan as the third South Asian nation to have a satellite in orbit. The plan for the Sri Lankan company is to work with China on at least one additional satellite in a co-ownership agreement, which should launch in 2013 and will be known as SupremeSat 2. This second satellite will be based on the China Academy of Space Technology's DFH-4 bus, and will occupy its slot at 50 degrees East.