China placed SinoSat-3, a radio and TV broadcasting communications satellite, into orbit June 1 using a Long March-3A rocket, according to the state-operated Xinhua news service.

SinoSat-2, China’s first direct-to-home satellite, was lofted into orbit in October 2006 but failed to deploy its solar panels and antennas and was deemed a loss by Sino Satellite Communications Co. Ltd., the operator of the SinoSat series.

In November, a SinoSat spokesman said a replacement satellite would take at least three years to develop. Xinhua reported “it is not clear” whether SinoSat-3 would replace the services that would have been provided by SinoSat-2.