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.