Chinese new telecommunications satellite Zhongxing-22A lifts off at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, southwest China's Sichuan Province Sept. 13, 2006. China launched Zhongxing-22A with a Long March-3A rocket carrier at 00:02 on Wednesday.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

Chinese new telecommunications satellite Zhongxing-22A lifts off at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, southwest China's Sichuan Province Sept. 13, 2006. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    XICHANG, Sichuan Province, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- China launched a new telecommunications satellite, Zhongxing-22A, with a Long March-3A rocket carrier, at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, at 00:02 on Wednesday.

    Twenty-five minutes later, the Xi'an Satellite Monitoring and Controling Center reported that Zhongxing-22A successfully entered onto the preset orbit, at a perigee of 207 kilometers and an apogee of 42,000 kilometers.

    Zhongxing-22A, an earth-synchronous telecommunications satellite is designed by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Technology Group Company.

    The satellite has been designed to work for eight years, for the owner -- the China Telecommunication Broadcast Satellite Company under the China Telecommunications Satellite Group Company.

    It has been the 10th successful launch in succession of the Long March-3A and the 91st launch of the Long March rocket carriers.

    Since October,1996, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center has succeeded in 18 successive launches, and it is also the country's 49th successful space launch in the running.

    According to some experts, once the satellite shifts its track, it will be fixed above the Equator, at 98 degrees east longitude, under the guidance of the Xi'an center and ocean-going space measuring vessels. Afterwards, it will be handed over to the owner. Enditem