Deals struck to put 5 new communications, weather satellites into space by 2014

ZHUHAI: China will launch two communications satellites and three meteorological satellites over the next six years, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said yesterday in a press release.

The corporation signed a deal yesterday at the Zhuhai air show with China Direct Broadcast Satellite Co Ltd (China DBSAT) to launch two communications satellites - SinoSat-5 (in 2011) and SinoSat-6 (in 2010) aboard Long March-3B rockets from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, the release said.

Beijing-based China DBSAT is the mainland's only satellite operator and currently operates the Chinastar-1, Sinosat-1, Sinosat-3, Chinasat-6B and Chinasat 9 satellites.