On November 1, 2005, China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Venezuela signed a contract for the VENESAT-1 Satellite Program in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Madam Marlene Yadira Codova, Minister of VMOST, and Mr. Wang Haibo, President of CGWIC, signed the contract as the representative of each party. Mr. Hugo Chavez, the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Mr. Luo Ge, Vice Administrator of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and other high officials from both sides attended the contract signing ceremony.
CGWIC, as the primary contractor, will be responsible for the design, manufacture, assembly, testing and launch of the VENESAT-1 satellite in cooperation with its subcontractors for the launch vehicle, satellite, launch, satellite tracking and control. According to the contract, CGWIC will deliver a normal in-orbit satellite and the associated ground facilities for testing, control and operation.
The VENESAT-1 satellite will be positioned at a longitude of 82.7°W, and will provide telecommunications and broadcasting services to Venezuela. The satellite is based on the three-axis-stabilized DFH-4 satellite platform developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). VENESAT-1’s design in-orbit life span is 15 years, and it is fitted with 12 C and 14 Ku band transponders. The satellite will be launched on a Long March-3B launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), a subsidiary of CASC, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, and will be delivered to Venezuela in 2008.