Backgrounder: Sinosat

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 ◆ Backgrounder: Sinosat

Sinosat is a bulky telecommunications satellite manufactured in Europe. There are 24 C-band and 14 KU-band transponders on the satellite.

The service term of the satellite in orbit is 15 years. The satellite serves both China and neighboring countries and areas. The ground monitoring and control station for Sinosat was designed and manufactured by China independently and the software used to control the satellite was also programmed by China.

Sinosat was carried into orbit by the Long March-3B carrier rocket on July 18, 1998, resting at 110.5 degrees east longitude over the equator.

At present, Sinosat serves several dozen users including China's national education and scientific research computer network, the global satellite data broadcasting network of Xinhua News Agency, a state program which aims to help all villages in China's less-developed areas to have access to radio and television programs, China Meteorological Administration, Jitong Communications Company, China Unicom and China Education Television Station.