Apstar 6 | |
Operator: | APT Satellite |
Mission Duration: | 15 years (planned) (in progress) |
Spacecraft Bus: | Spacebus 4000C1 |
Manufacturer: | Alcatel Space |
Launch Site: | Xichang LA-2 |
Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
Orbit Regime: | Geostationary |
Orbit Longitude: | 134° East 0°N 134°W |
Apsis: | gee |
Trans Band: | 38 C band 12 Ku band |
Trans Bandwidth: | 36 MHz 50 MHz |
Trans Twta: | 64W (C band) 145 (Ku band) |
Trans Eirp: | at Peak: 42 decibel-watts 60 decibel-watts |
Apstar 6 is a communications satellite built by Alcatel Space, a subsidiary of Alcatel, and was boosted into orbit on April 12, 2005, by Long March 3B launcher from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China. It provides APT Satellite, a satellite operator in the Asia Pacific region, with broadband media and television services. It is fitted with 38 C-band transponders and 12 Ku band transponders. China is covered with a dedicated high power Ku band beam for broadband multimedia transmission. It is the second model of the Spacebus 4000. The transponders have a reduced C-band receiving dish over a wide footprint, which extends across India, China and Australia.
It is significant in enhancing cooperation between Alcatel Space and China as a - to the SINOSAT satellite. Apstar 6 was built as an ITAR-free satellite, containing no restricted U.S. components.[1] Under the U.S. ITAR regulations, U.S. satellite components may not be exported for launch on Chinese rockets. However, the U.S. Department of State did not accept the ITAR-free status of these satellites and fined the US company Aeroflex $8 million for selling ITAR components. In 2013, Thales Alenia discontinued its ITAR-free satellite line.[2]