Nigcomsat 1

Spacecraft n°:

Nigerian spacecraft n°: 2

Launch data: Designation  31395 / 07018A Launch date  13 May 2007 - 16:01 UT Launch site  Xichang, LC-2 Launch vehicle  CZ-3B Mission  Telecommunications Geostationary orbit on: Perigee / Apogee  35762 x 35810 km Inclination  0.03° Period  1436.07 min

Spacecraft data:

Mission details:

• China launched a communications satellite for Nigeria, a first for an African country and the first time China has provided both the satellite and the launch service.
• China launched its second DFH-4 communications satellite on May 13. The 5150 kg payload is Nigcomsat-1, China's first commercial payload sale, to be operated by Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd., a state-owned company under the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. Nigeria's National Space Research and Development Agency, under the same ministry, also has a role in the mission
• The Chinese-built Nigcomsat 1 was inserted into a 218 x 41927 km x 25.3 deg transfer orbit. Between May 15 and 22 it made a series of burns to enter geosynchronous orbit and by May 23 was stationary at 42 deg E in a 35772 x 35802 km x 0.2 deg orbit.