4月12日19时04分,实践十三号(中星十六号)卫星在西昌卫星发射中心由长征三号乙运载火箭成功发射入轨。该卫星由航天科技集团五院抓总研制,是中国首颗高通量、电推进工程化应用的通信卫星,也是东方红三号B平台全配置的首发星,承担了中国首次在地球同步轨道卫星上开展对地高速激光通信试验等任务。卫星在轨寿命15年。上级有关部门领导,航天科技集 At 19:04 on April 12, the practice No. 13 satellite (No. 16 satellite) successfully launched into orbit at Xichang Satellite Launch Center from No. 3 B carrier launch vehicle on the Long March. The spacecraft from the Aerospace Science and Technology Group, general manager of five research and development, China’s first high-throughput, electric propulsion engineering application of communications satellite, is also the Dongfanghong B-platform full configuration of the starting star, assumed China’s first geostationary orbit Satellites to high-speed laser communications on the ground and other tasks. Satellite in orbit life of 15 years. Higher relevant department leaders, aerospace science and technology set