Chinasat


ChinaSat is the brand name of communications satellites operated by China Satellite Communications.

History

In 2007 a joint venture China Direct Broadcast Satellite was formed to run the brand ChinaSat. It was a joint venture of state-owned companies China Satellite Communications, China Orient Telecommunications Satellite and Sino Satellite Communications. The latter was controlled by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. However, China Satellite Communications was changed from a direct subsidiary of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council to a direct subsidiary of CASC in 2009, the joint venture was dissolved and Sino Satellite Communications became a subsidiary of China Satellite Communications.
The brand ChinaSat was previously operated by China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corporation, which was owned by China's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corporation was merged with other state-owned companies to form China Satellite Communications Corporation circa 2000.
Satellites formerly operated by Sino Satellite Communications and China Orient Telecommunications Satellite were renamed with ChinaSat designations following the acquisition of China Satellite Communications by CASC. ChinaStar 1 became ChinaSat 5A, SinoSat 1 became ChinaSat 5B, and SinoSat 3 became ChinaSat 5C.

Satellites

ChinaSat 2A

ChinaSat 2A was launched in 2012.

ChinaSat 5A

ChinaSat 5A was launched in 1998, formerly known as ChinaStar 1. It was leased to China Satellite Communications's subsidiary APT Satellite Holdings and renamed to Apstar 9A on 9 January 2014.

ChinaSat 5B

ChinaSat 5B was launched in 1998, formerly known as Sinosat 1. It was sold to Pasifik Satelit Nusantara in 2012.

ChinaSat 5C

ChinaSat 5C was launched in 2007, formerly known as SinoSat 3. It was leased to Eutelsat in 2011.

ChinaSat 5D

ChinaSat 5D was launched in 1996, formerly known as Apstar 1A. It was placed in geosynchronous orbit at a longitude of 51.5° East circa 2009. It was acquired by China Satellite Communications from subsidiary APT Satellite Holdings.

ChinaSat 5E

ChinaSat 5E was launched in 1994, formerly known as Apstar 1. It was placed in geosynchronous orbit at a longitude of 142° East and moved to 163° East circa 2012. It was acquired by China Satellite Communications from subsidiary APT Satellite Holdings.

ChinaSat 6

ChinaSat 6 were two satellites launched in 1994 and 1997. The first satellite was lost and the second suffered from reduced life.

ChinaSat 6A

ChinaSat 6A was launched in 2010. Formerly known as SinoSat 6.

ChinaSat 6B

The ChinaSat 6B satellite was manufactured by Thales Alenia Space, based on the Spacebus 4000C2 platform. It has 38 transponders, and is being used for TV transmissions and shortwave jamming across China, Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Oceania. It has a planned useful life of 15 years. The launch, on a Long March 3B rocket, was successfully conducted on 5 July 2007. The broadcast used for some shortwave radio jamming purposes in China is carried on one of the Chinasat 6B transponders.
United States ITAR restrictions prohibited the export of satellite components for satellites launched on Chinese rockets. In response, Thales Alenia built ChinaSat 6B as an ITAR-free satellite, containing no restricted U.S. satellite components. However, the US Department of State did not accept the ITAR-free status of these satellites and fined the US company Aeroflex $8 million for exporting satellite components. In 2013, Thales Alenia discontinued its ITAR-free satellite line.

ChinaSat 8

ChinaSat 8 was built by Space Systems/Loral and scheduled for launch in April 1999 on a Long March 3B rocket. However, the U.S Department of State blocked its export to China under ITAR regulations. The satellite was sold to ProtoStar in 2006.

ChinaSat 9

On 9 June 2008 the China Great Wall Industrial Corporation used a Long March 3B lifting off from Xichang pad LA-2 to launch Chinasat 9.

ChinaSat 9A

ChinaSat 9A was based on the DFH-4 bus. It was launched in June 2017.

ChinaSat 10

ChinaSat 10 was based on the DFH-4 bus. It was launched in 2011. Formerly known as SinoSat 5.

ChinaSat 11

ChinaSat 11 was based on the DFH-4 bus. It was launched in May 2013. ChinaSat 11 is used for Ninmedia, a free Indonesian TV network that provides many Indonesian TV stations.

ChinaSat 12

ChinaSat 12 was launched in 2012. Formerly known as Apstar 7B. A backup of Apstar 7, Apstar 7B was acquired by China Satellite Communications from its subsidiary APT Satellite Holdings in 2010. It was based on Thales Alenia Space Spacebus-4000C2.

ChinaSat 15

ChinaSat 15, aka Belintersat-1, was based on the DFH-4 bus. It was launched on 16 January 2016 00:57.

ChinaSat 16

ChinaSat 2D

Zhongxing-2D was launched at 17:05 UTC on January 10, 2019 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center using a Long March-3B/G3 from the LC2 Launch Complex.

Chinasat 18

Chinasat 18 was launched at 12:03 UTC on August 19, 2019 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center using a Long March-3B/E from the LC2 Launch Complex. Although the launch was successful, the satellite malfunctioned once released into space. The satellite was declared a total loss.