At 20:11 on July 9, 2020, the Asia-Pacific 6D communications satellite was successfully launched by the Long March 3B carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The Asia-Pacific 6D communication satellite is a high-throughput broadband communication satellite in geostationary orbit. It was developed by the Communications Satellite Division of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group (hereinafter referred to as the Fifth Academy), and adopted the new-generation Dongfanghong-4 enhanced version independently developed by my country. The satellite public platform (DFH-4E platform) is built with a launch weight of about 5550 kg and a service life of 15 years in orbit. Up to now, the Fifth Academy has developed and launched 304 spacecraft.

The Asia-Pacific 6D communications satellite is my country’s 11th commercial communications satellite for export and my country’s first Ku-band global high-throughput broadband satellite communica-tions system. It is also my country’s current largest communications capacity, most beams, largest output power, design The most complex civil and commercial communication satellite represents my country's high-throughput communication satellite research and development capability reaching the international advanced level.

 

The Asia-Pacific 6D communication satellite mainly provides users in the Asia-Pacific region with high-quality, efficient and economical all-regional, all-weather satellite broadband communication services to meet their maritime communications, aviation airborne communications, land vehicle communications, and fixed satellite broadband Internet access. These application requirements will play an important role in commercial communications, emergency communications and public communications, and will effectively promote and promote the social progress and economic development of the service area.

"High-throughput communication satellite (HTS)" simply refers to the use of advanced technologies such as frequency multiplexing and multi-spot beams to achieve communication satellites with communication capacity dozens of times higher than conventional communication satellites, allowing users to enjoy them anytime, anywhere Convenient and fast satellite Internet transmission services play an irreplaceable role in network coverage extension, backbone network backup, remote area coverage, and emergency communications. On April 12, 2017, my country's first high-throughput communication satellite, Zhongxing-16, was successfully launched. In just a few years, the Asia-Pacific 6D communication satellite has raised my country's high-throughput communication satellite technology capabilities to the world's first-class level.

The Asia-Pacific 6D communication satellite uses the Ku/Ka frequency band for transmission. The total communication capacity can reach 50Gbps, and the single beam capacity can reach more than 1Gbps. It can provide users with high-quality voice and data communication services; it adopts 90 user beams to achieve visual range Global coverage, in terms of load weight, communication capacity, design complexity, etc., set the highest record of similar domestic communication satellites.

According to Wei Qiang, the chief commander/chief designer of the Asia-Pacific 6D communication satellite of the Fifth Academy, the project team has overcome many key technologies such as Ku-band ultra-wideband multi-port power amplifier (MPA) and flexible switching of gateway stations, making the satellite technical indicators and capabilities reach the international level. Advanced level. As another "shining business card" of China's high-end export commercial communication satellites, this project is of great significance to the international development of my country's Dongfanghong series of communication satellites.

In order to ensure the flexible allocation and application of satellite power resources, the Xi’an Branch of the Fifth Academy has applied Ku-band broadband multi-channel hybrid matrix amplifiers on the satellite, which can realize satellite signal output under conditions of ground application hot spots or signal attenuation caused by rainfall. Dynamic adjustment of power. For the first time, the developers of the Xi'an Branch adopted new waveguide installation and other technologies to maximize the layout space.

In 2010, focusing on the development trend and application requirements of future communication satellites, my country proposed to further carry out technological innovation on the basis of the Dongfanghong-4 satellite platform (DFH-4 platform) to comprehensively improve the international competitiveness of my country's communication satellite platform. In 2012, the development of the Dongfanghong-4 enhanced satellite platform (hereinafter referred to as the DFH-4E platform) was officially launched. After years of hard work, the Asia-Pacific 6D communication satellite based on the Dongfanghong-4 enhanced satellite platform was successfully launched and realized the The platform's "first appearance" on the international commercial aerospace arena.

"The DFH-4E platform has the advantages of'high load capacity, high power, long life, high reliability', and is stronger and more intelligent. It can meet the needs of various future satellite communications applications and has broad application prospects." Shi Ming, the person in charge of 6D communication satellite product assurance, said.

The payload carrying capacity is like the chassis of a car, and it is an important indicator to measure the capacity of a satellite platform. Thanks to the new DFH-4E platform, the payload weight of the Asia-Pacific 6D communication satellite is 1.5 times that of the ordinary Dongsi satellite, the number of transponder equipment is 2 to 3 times that of the ordinary Dongsi satellite, and the number of waveguides is close to that of the ordinary Dongsi satellite. 6 times. Combining the structural characteristics of the DFH-4E platform and the actual needs of the Asia-Pacific 6D communication satellite, the project team innovatively proposed the "extended communication cabin" configuration and the "communication cabin horizontal board" structural form, and the coupled heat pipe design ensures the Asia-Pacific 6D communication The super large-scale payload of the satellite is not only "slowly put down and well placed", but also "fast heat dissipation and no fever".

The power supply and distribution system is the "heart" and "blood circulation system" of the satellite, ensuring the effective operation of the equipment on the satellite. In order to meet the demand for satellite power supply and distribution, the project team relies on the DFH-4E platform to tailor a "high-power power supply and distribution package" for Asia-Pacific 6D communication satellites: adopting a new generation of 14.4kW power controllers, large one-dimensional secondary solar Wing, high-power solar wing drive mechanism, large-capacity lithium-ion battery pack, independent research and development of new energy independent management software, etc. Through these innovative applications, the high-power demand for the entire satellite of the Asia-Pacific 6D communication satellite has been effectively met, and the platform's power supply safety protection and the ability to independently manage power systems on orbit have reached the international advanced level.

Under stable and safe conditions, long-distance driving of a car depends on sufficient fuel or electricity, and the service life of communication satellites often depends on the limitation of propellants. The Asia-Pacific 6D communications satellite adopts a full configuration of chemical propulsion and electric propulsion, just like a "hybrid electric vehicle" in space. It adopts the long-life and high-reliability LIPS200 ion electric propulsion technology independently developed by my country to complete the north-south position maintenance, fully satisfying 15 years. Service life requirements. By adopting electric propulsion technology, the DFH-4E platform satellite can save a lot of chemical propellant weight, thereby increasing the upper limit of the weight of the payload and further enhancing the application value of the satellite.

As the fully configured first star of the DFH-4E platform, the Asia-Pacific 6D communications satellite will fully verify this new platform during mission execution, continue to expand the technical capabilities of the platform, and continue to promote the technical improvement and subsequent promotion and application of the platform. It is believed that in the near future, more DFH-4E platform satellites will shine in the starry sky one after another, and shine on the international stage of communication satellites.