The ChinaSat 20, or ShenTong 1 (ST-1) in its military name, is a geostationary military communication satellite launched on 14 November 2003 on a CZ-3A space launch vehicle from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC). The satellite has been stationed on Geostationary Orbit at 103 deg E, and is currently used by the PLA to provide secured voice/data communications services for ground users in Ku-band.
The ChinaSat 20/ST-1 was based on the DongFangHong 3 (DFH-3) satellite bus developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST, also known as 5th Space Academy), with heavier payload, increased power supply, and better reliability. The development programme took only five years to complete.
The three-axis stabilised satellite weights 2,300kg. It features a number of new technologies, including the first Chinese satellite to provide the Ku-band communication; the first to use the advanced multiple steerable spot beam antenna technology to enable ground users to communicate while on the move; the first to use secured uplink transmission for satellite antenna control; and the most powerful onboard data processing capability.
