What is "chinasat"

Chinasat is a family of communications satellites operated by the China Direct Broadcast Satellite Company. The series was previously operated by the China Satellite Communications Corporation, and before that the China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corporation, which was owned by China's Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.

Satellites formerly operated by the Sino Satellite Communications Company and the China Orient Telecommunications Satellite Company were renamed with Chinasat designations following their mergers with the China Satellite Communications Corporation to form China DBSAT. ChinaStar 1 became Chinasat 5A, Sinosat-1 became Chinasat 5B, and Sinosat-3 became Chinasat 5C.