Dong Fang Hong 02
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Dong Fang Hong 02 was a primary television satellite used by China during the latter part of the 20th century. It was developed at the Chinese Academy of Space Technology and had a design life 4.5 years. The first satellite in this group was launched into a geosynchronous orbit on April 8, 1984. Broadcasts from these satellites were able to cover all of China and some neighboring regions.[citation needed]
Three satellites orbited in geosynchronous orbits at 87.5, 110.5, and 98 degrees east. A fourth satellite failed to achieve a stable orbit due to a problem with the third stage. [1]
The satellite was cylindrical with a height of 8.5 meters (27 ft 11 in), a diameter of 2.1 meters (6 ft 11 in) and weighed 441 kilograms (972 lb).
The Dong Fang Hong 2 A satellite used a parabolic communications antenna mounted to the top of the satellite for broadcast purposes. The antenna could be rotated to keep it aligned with the earth. Twenty-thousand solar cells were mounted to the satellite to provide power. This was China's first successful use of photovoltaic technology. [2]
