Apstar 6

Operator	APT Satellite
COSPAR ID	2005-012A
SATCAT no.	28638
Mission duration	15 years (planned) 19 years, 8 months, 16 days (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
Bus	Spacebus 4000C1
Manufacturer	Alcatel Space
Launch mass	5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	April 12, 2005 (2005-04-12)
Rocket	Long March 3B
Launch site	Xichang LA-2
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Geostationary
Longitude	134° East 0°N 134°E / 0°N 134°E / 0; 134
Transponders
Band	38 C band 12 Ku band
Bandwidth	36 MHz 50 MHz
TWTA power	64W (C band) 145 (Ku band)
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 K_u band transponders. China is covered with a dedicated high power K_u 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.^{[citation needed]}

It is significant in enhancing cooperation between Alcatel Space and China as a - to the SINOSAT satellite.^{[citation needed]} 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]

• Alcatel press release
• APT website
• Apstar 6 footprint(s) at SatBeams