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SJ 18
SJ 18 [CCTV]
SJ 18 (Shijian 18) was a Chinese experimental geostationary satellite based on the new DFH-5 Bus.
SJ 18 was to be the maiden flight of the DFH-5 ultra-high-performance satellite platform, featuring a high-thrust ion propulsion. It provides payload power up to 28 Kilowatts.
The satellite hosted a Ka-band high-throughput communications payload of 70 Gbps. Also an optical infrared laser communications terminal for downlinks with data rates of upt to 4.8 Gbit/s was on board. Reportedly an experimental quantum communications payload, similar to the one on QSS (Mozi), was also carried.
The satellite was launched in June 2017 on a CZ-5 rocket from the Wengchang cosmodrome, but failed to reach orbit.
A similar, but even larger SJ 20 was launched in 2019 on the third CZ-5 rocket from the Wengchang.
| Nation: | China |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Technology |
| Operator: | CAST |
| Contractors: | CAST |
| Equipment: | Ka-band high-throughput payload, infrared laser communications terminal |
| Configuration: | DFH-5 Bus |
| Propulsion: | ? × LIPS-300 Ion engines |
| Power: | 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | 7600 kg |
| Orbit: | GEO |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJ 18 | 2017-F03 | 02.07.2017 | We LC-101 | F | CZ-5 | |
| SJ 20 | 2019-097A | 27.12.2019 | We LC-101 | CZ-5 |
