Zhongwei 1 [Lockheed Martin]
Official name CHINASAT 5A (CHINASTAR1)
Alternative name Apstar 9A
Cospar ID 1998-033A
Norad ID 25354
Launch date 1998-05-30
Launch site XSC
Launch vehicle CZ-3B
Country/Organization China
Type application Communication
Operator China Orient Telecommunications Satellite Company → China Satcom
RCS size LARGE
Decay date ON ORBIT
Period (min) 1454.62
Inclination (deg) 8.02
Perigee (km) 36136
Apogee (km) 36161
Eccentricity 0.000345795814487461
Mean motion (revs. per day) 0.989949265100164
Semi-Major axis (km) 42526.635
Raan (deg) 65.0866
Arg of perigee (deg) 130.0963
Shape Box + 2 Pan
Mass (kg) 2957.38
Height (m) 2.5
Width (m) 4.5
Depth (m) 4.5
Span (m^2) 21
Lifetime 15 years
Contractors Lockheed Martin
Equipment 18 C-band transponders, 20 Ku-band transponders
Propulsion LEROS-1c
Configuration A2100A
Power 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries

The Zhongwei 1 (Chinastar 1) satellite, an A2100A class comsat built by Lockheed Martin for the China Orient Telecommunications Satellite Co., part of the Chinese telecoms ministry. Zhongwei 1 will serve China, India, Korea and southeast Asia with 18 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders. It was orbited on a CZ-3B launch vehicle using a supersynchronous transfer orbit.

In 2010, the satellite was taken over by China Satcom and renamed ZX 5A (ChinaSat 5A). In 2013, APT and China Satcom struck an agreement under which APT would lease the satellite to prepare the market for the arrival of APStar 9 and move it to 142° east, where it has been renamed APStar 9A.

The satellite was retired in June 2018 and moved to a graveyard orbit.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
CHINASAT 5A (CHINASTAR1) 1998-033A 1998-05-30 XSC CZ-3B