Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE49721
2008-05-09 20:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END USE CHECK ON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0009 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #9721 1302013 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 092006Z MAY 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0000 INFO RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC 0000 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC 0000 RUEPINS/HQ BICE INTEL WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS STATE 049721
SIPDIS
FOR ECON ERIC J. REUTER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC FR KOMC
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END USE CHECK ON
SATELLITE COMPONENTS
REF: A. SPACE NEWS 21 JUNE 2004: U.S. EXPORT
RESTRICTIONS HELP ALCATEL WIN CHINASAT9
HTTP://WWW.SPACE.COM/SPACENEWS/
B. SPACE NEWS 13 JUNE 2005: EUROPEAN SATELLITE
COMPONENT MAKER SAYS IT IS DROPPING U.S.
COMPONENTS BECAUSE OF ITAR
C. SPACE NEWS 06 JULY 2007: CHINA LAUNCHES NEW
COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE
D. EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY ITAR FREE SPACEBUS 4000B2
HTTP://TELECOM.ESA.INT/TELECOM/
E. WIKIPEDIA PAGE ON SPACEBUS
HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/SPACEBUS
F. GUNTER'S SPACE PAGE HTTP://SPACE.SKYROCKET.DE/
UNCLAS STATE 049721
SIPDIS
FOR ECON ERIC J. REUTER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC FR KOMC
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END USE CHECK ON
SATELLITE COMPONENTS
REF: A. SPACE NEWS 21 JUNE 2004: U.S. EXPORT
RESTRICTIONS HELP ALCATEL WIN CHINASAT9
HTTP://WWW.SPACE.COM/SPACENEWS/
B. SPACE NEWS 13 JUNE 2005: EUROPEAN SATELLITE
COMPONENT MAKER SAYS IT IS DROPPING U.S.
COMPONENTS BECAUSE OF ITAR
C. SPACE NEWS 06 JULY 2007: CHINA LAUNCHES NEW
COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE
D. EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY ITAR FREE SPACEBUS 4000B2
HTTP://TELECOM.ESA.INT/TELECOM/
E. WIKIPEDIA PAGE ON SPACEBUS
HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/SPACEBUS
F. GUNTER'S SPACE PAGE HTTP://SPACE.SKYROCKET.DE/
1. This is an action message. See paragraphs 2-7.
2. The Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls
Compliance (PM/DTCC) requests post assistance in conducting a
post-shipment check regarding the export and use of satellite
components. Post is requested to complete this Blue Lantern
check within 45 days. Lack of response to a Blue Lantern
check will affect pending and future licenses involving
parties to this license.
3. Reason for request: the Directorate of Defense Trade
Controls (DDTC),in accordance with the Arms Export Control
Act (AECA) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations
(ITAR),is charged with controlling the export of defense
articles and defense services covered by the United States
Munitions List (USML). U.S.-origin commercial satellites,
and military-grade satellite components, are ITAR-controlled
and require a DDTC license for export. USML commodities
exported to one country cannot be transferred to another
party or re-exported without express USG authorization. The
export of all USML commodities is prohibited to certain
countries, such as Cuba, Iran, and North Korea. This policy
of export denial for ITAR-controlled items also applies to
China.
4. Recent press reporting indicates that some European
aerospace firms who do business with China feel unduly
constrained by USG export restrictions on ITAR-controlled
satellite components. Commercial satellites that contain any
ITAR-controlled components cannot be sold to China, nor can
they be launched by China for other countries. Consequently,
certain European firms are advertising that they can now
produce "ITAR-free" satellites, thereby eliminating USG
export and re-transfer restrictions (Ref. A-D).
5. Three satellites built for China and declared ITAR-free
are APStar 6 (launched 12 April 2005),ChinaSat 6B (launched
05 July 2007),and ChinaSat 9 (expected launch May-June
2008). All three were built by primary contractor Thales
Alenia Space, based on the Spacebus 4000C2 platform. Within
the 4000 series are also found classes B2, B3, C1, C3, and
C4. (Note: "Spacebus" is a trade name for a standardized
satellite platform that originated with the French company
Aerospatiale. Aerospatiale eventually became Alcatel Space,
then Alcatel Space merged with Alenia Spazio to form Alcatel
Alenia Space in 2005. Alcatel Alenia Space merged with
Thales in 2007, thereby establishing Thales Alenia Space.
Thales S.A., partly owned by the French government, is the
parent company of Thales Alenia Space. See Ref. E-F for
further information about the Spacebus platform and specific
commercial satellites that have utilized the successive
Spacebus series.)
6. A search for "spacebus" in DDTC's licensing database
found 56 approved licenses and Technical Assistance
Agreements (TAA) dating from 1999 to 2008. Listed below are
most of the licenses which specified the Spacebus 4000
series. Only a few of these cases further identified a
particular Spacebus 4000 class, namely, 4000B3, 4000C1,
4000C3, and 4000C4 (see cases B, G, H, and K below). In
addition, several licenses approved during 2007 are for
thousands of ITAR-controlled components for Spacebus 4000
future programs which do not specify class or an end-user of
the satellite. Thus in light of these data, the Thales
Alenia Space claim that the Spacebus 4000C2 platform utilized
for the China satellites were actually ITAR-free will need to
be substantiated for DDTC.
7. ACTION: Please visit the Foreign End User/Primary
Contractor Thales Alenia Space. Request that Thales Alenia
Space provide post with copies of relevant documents
regarding construction and launch of the APStar6, ChinaSat
6B, and ChinaSat 9 satellites. These documents should
include technical specs; parts list including name, stock
number, manufacturer, source, and country of origin. Thales
Alenia Space should be able to substantiate that the China
satellites had no ITAR (see list of licenses and components
in para 8),and should be able to identify which platforms do
use ITAR components, and to which countries these have been
exported. END ACTION.
FOREIGN END USER/PRIMARY CONTRACTOR:
Thales Alenia Space
45 rue de Villiers
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Cedex, Paris 92526
FRANCE
8. License Information:
A) DDTC Case Number 05-801131
APPROVED: 10/2000
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
22 Rad Hard Components for SMU Calculator
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
B) DDTC Case Number 05-811379
APPROVED: 01/2001
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
04 Non Return Moog Values for Propulsion System
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000C3 program.
C) DDTC Case Number 05-814283
APPROVED: 03/2001
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
400 Rad Hard MOSFETs
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
D) DDTC Case Number 05-815542
APPROVED: 03/2001
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
176 Rad Hard Integrated Circuits
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
E) DDTC Case Number 05-818566
APPROVED: 06/2001
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
01 Lot Tech Data for Xenon Propulsion System
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
F) DDTC Case Number 05-842740
APPROVED: 03/2002
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
09 IRES-NE Sensors
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
G) DDTC Case Number 05-843356
APPROVED: 02/2002
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
02 Coarse Sun Sensors for Attitude System
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000B3 program.
H) DDTC Case Number 05-910432
APPROVED: 02/2004
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
936 Rad Hard MOSFETs
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000C1 and 4000C3 programs.
I) DDTC Case Number 05-1001956
APPROVED: 08/2006
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
250 GPO Connectors for Channel Amplifier
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
J) DDTC Case Number 05-050014567
APPROVED: 09/2006
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
08 Dow Corning Space Grade Encapsulant Kit
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
K) DDTC Case Number 05-050034825
APPROVED: 03/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
05 Helium Series Redundant Pressure Regulators
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000C4 program.
L) DDTC Case Number 05-050047951
APPROVED: 06/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
300 Hermetic Connectors for Power Supply Equipment
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
M) DDTC Case Number 05-050047970
APPROVED: 06/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
290 Hermetic Connectors for Hybrid Sub-Assemblies
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
N) DDTC Case Number 05-050049432
APPROVED: 06/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
5,800 N-Channel Power MOSFETs for Power Control Units
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
O) DDTC Case Number 05-050051930
APPROVED: 06/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
1,235 Current Limiting Fuses
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
P) DDTC Case Number 05-050055463
APPROVED: 08/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
1,000 N-Channel MOSFETs for Power Control Units
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
Q) DDTC Case Number 05-050067032
APPROVED: 10/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
700 N-Channel MOSFETs for Power Control Units
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
R) DDTC Case Number TAA 2660-07
APPROVED: 11/2007
COMMODITY:
Technical Assistance Agreement for Testing of Nickel Hydrogen
Batteries
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
S) DDTC Case Number 05-050075053
APPROVED: 11/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
105 High Reliability MOSFETs for DC/DC Converter Hybrids
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
T) DDTC Case Number 05-050079133
APPROVED: 12/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
55 Connectors for Hybrid Sub-Assemblies
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
U) DDTC Case Number 05-050080467
APPROVED: 01/2008
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
4,100 N-Channel Power MOSFETs for Power Control Units
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
V) DDTC Case Number 05-050091534
APPROVED: 03/2008
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
05 Helium Pressure Regulators
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
W) DDTC Case Number 05-050093091
APPROVED: 03/2008
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
10 FreeFlyer Software for Analysis of Orbital Dynamics
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
9. Please slug reply for PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
and include the words "Blue Lantern" in the subject line.
POC on this case is Peter Sabatini, PM/DTCC, phone:
202-663-2819; ClassNet email: sabtinipj@state.sgov.gov;
OpenNet email: sabatinipj@state.gov. The 2006 Blue Lantern
Guide Book is available on OpenNet at
http://fsi.state.gov/fsi/spas/default.asp?ID= 1588
Department thanks Post for its assistance in this matter.
RICE
SIPDIS
FOR ECON ERIC J. REUTER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC FR KOMC
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END USE CHECK ON
SATELLITE COMPONENTS
REF: A. SPACE NEWS 21 JUNE 2004: U.S. EXPORT
RESTRICTIONS HELP ALCATEL WIN CHINASAT9
HTTP://WWW.SPACE.COM/SPACENEWS/
B. SPACE NEWS 13 JUNE 2005: EUROPEAN SATELLITE
COMPONENT MAKER SAYS IT IS DROPPING U.S.
COMPONENTS BECAUSE OF ITAR
C. SPACE NEWS 06 JULY 2007: CHINA LAUNCHES NEW
COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE
D. EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY ITAR FREE SPACEBUS 4000B2
HTTP://TELECOM.ESA.INT/TELECOM/
E. WIKIPEDIA PAGE ON SPACEBUS
HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/SPACEBUS
F. GUNTER'S SPACE PAGE HTTP://SPACE.SKYROCKET.DE/
1. This is an action message. See paragraphs 2-7.
2. The Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls
Compliance (PM/DTCC) requests post assistance in conducting a
post-shipment check regarding the export and use of satellite
components. Post is requested to complete this Blue Lantern
check within 45 days. Lack of response to a Blue Lantern
check will affect pending and future licenses involving
parties to this license.
3. Reason for request: the Directorate of Defense Trade
Controls (DDTC),in accordance with the Arms Export Control
Act (AECA) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations
(ITAR),is charged with controlling the export of defense
articles and defense services covered by the United States
Munitions List (USML). U.S.-origin commercial satellites,
and military-grade satellite components, are ITAR-controlled
and require a DDTC license for export. USML commodities
exported to one country cannot be transferred to another
party or re-exported without express USG authorization. The
export of all USML commodities is prohibited to certain
countries, such as Cuba, Iran, and North Korea. This policy
of export denial for ITAR-controlled items also applies to
China.
4. Recent press reporting indicates that some European
aerospace firms who do business with China feel unduly
constrained by USG export restrictions on ITAR-controlled
satellite components. Commercial satellites that contain any
ITAR-controlled components cannot be sold to China, nor can
they be launched by China for other countries. Consequently,
certain European firms are advertising that they can now
produce "ITAR-free" satellites, thereby eliminating USG
export and re-transfer restrictions (Ref. A-D).
5. Three satellites built for China and declared ITAR-free
are APStar 6 (launched 12 April 2005),ChinaSat 6B (launched
05 July 2007),and ChinaSat 9 (expected launch May-June
2008). All three were built by primary contractor Thales
Alenia Space, based on the Spacebus 4000C2 platform. Within
the 4000 series are also found classes B2, B3, C1, C3, and
C4. (Note: "Spacebus" is a trade name for a standardized
satellite platform that originated with the French company
Aerospatiale. Aerospatiale eventually became Alcatel Space,
then Alcatel Space merged with Alenia Spazio to form Alcatel
Alenia Space in 2005. Alcatel Alenia Space merged with
Thales in 2007, thereby establishing Thales Alenia Space.
Thales S.A., partly owned by the French government, is the
parent company of Thales Alenia Space. See Ref. E-F for
further information about the Spacebus platform and specific
commercial satellites that have utilized the successive
Spacebus series.)
6. A search for "spacebus" in DDTC's licensing database
found 56 approved licenses and Technical Assistance
Agreements (TAA) dating from 1999 to 2008. Listed below are
most of the licenses which specified the Spacebus 4000
series. Only a few of these cases further identified a
particular Spacebus 4000 class, namely, 4000B3, 4000C1,
4000C3, and 4000C4 (see cases B, G, H, and K below). In
addition, several licenses approved during 2007 are for
thousands of ITAR-controlled components for Spacebus 4000
future programs which do not specify class or an end-user of
the satellite. Thus in light of these data, the Thales
Alenia Space claim that the Spacebus 4000C2 platform utilized
for the China satellites were actually ITAR-free will need to
be substantiated for DDTC.
7. ACTION: Please visit the Foreign End User/Primary
Contractor Thales Alenia Space. Request that Thales Alenia
Space provide post with copies of relevant documents
regarding construction and launch of the APStar6, ChinaSat
6B, and ChinaSat 9 satellites. These documents should
include technical specs; parts list including name, stock
number, manufacturer, source, and country of origin. Thales
Alenia Space should be able to substantiate that the China
satellites had no ITAR (see list of licenses and components
in para 8),and should be able to identify which platforms do
use ITAR components, and to which countries these have been
exported. END ACTION.
FOREIGN END USER/PRIMARY CONTRACTOR:
Thales Alenia Space
45 rue de Villiers
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Cedex, Paris 92526
FRANCE
8. License Information:
A) DDTC Case Number 05-801131
APPROVED: 10/2000
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
22 Rad Hard Components for SMU Calculator
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
B) DDTC Case Number 05-811379
APPROVED: 01/2001
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
04 Non Return Moog Values for Propulsion System
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000C3 program.
C) DDTC Case Number 05-814283
APPROVED: 03/2001
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
400 Rad Hard MOSFETs
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
D) DDTC Case Number 05-815542
APPROVED: 03/2001
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
176 Rad Hard Integrated Circuits
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
E) DDTC Case Number 05-818566
APPROVED: 06/2001
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
01 Lot Tech Data for Xenon Propulsion System
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
F) DDTC Case Number 05-842740
APPROVED: 03/2002
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
09 IRES-NE Sensors
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
G) DDTC Case Number 05-843356
APPROVED: 02/2002
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
02 Coarse Sun Sensors for Attitude System
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000B3 program.
H) DDTC Case Number 05-910432
APPROVED: 02/2004
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
936 Rad Hard MOSFETs
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000C1 and 4000C3 programs.
I) DDTC Case Number 05-1001956
APPROVED: 08/2006
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
250 GPO Connectors for Channel Amplifier
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
J) DDTC Case Number 05-050014567
APPROVED: 09/2006
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
08 Dow Corning Space Grade Encapsulant Kit
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
K) DDTC Case Number 05-050034825
APPROVED: 03/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
05 Helium Series Redundant Pressure Regulators
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000C4 program.
L) DDTC Case Number 05-050047951
APPROVED: 06/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
300 Hermetic Connectors for Power Supply Equipment
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
M) DDTC Case Number 05-050047970
APPROVED: 06/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
290 Hermetic Connectors for Hybrid Sub-Assemblies
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
N) DDTC Case Number 05-050049432
APPROVED: 06/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
5,800 N-Channel Power MOSFETs for Power Control Units
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
O) DDTC Case Number 05-050051930
APPROVED: 06/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
1,235 Current Limiting Fuses
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
P) DDTC Case Number 05-050055463
APPROVED: 08/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
1,000 N-Channel MOSFETs for Power Control Units
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
Q) DDTC Case Number 05-050067032
APPROVED: 10/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
700 N-Channel MOSFETs for Power Control Units
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
R) DDTC Case Number TAA 2660-07
APPROVED: 11/2007
COMMODITY:
Technical Assistance Agreement for Testing of Nickel Hydrogen
Batteries
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
S) DDTC Case Number 05-050075053
APPROVED: 11/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
105 High Reliability MOSFETs for DC/DC Converter Hybrids
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
T) DDTC Case Number 05-050079133
APPROVED: 12/2007
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
55 Connectors for Hybrid Sub-Assemblies
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
U) DDTC Case Number 05-050080467
APPROVED: 01/2008
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
4,100 N-Channel Power MOSFETs for Power Control Units
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program (future platforms).
V) DDTC Case Number 05-050091534
APPROVED: 03/2008
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
05 Helium Pressure Regulators
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
W) DDTC Case Number 05-050093091
APPROVED: 03/2008
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
10 FreeFlyer Software for Analysis of Orbital Dynamics
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Spacebus 4000 program.
9. Please slug reply for PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
and include the words "Blue Lantern" in the subject line.
POC on this case is Peter Sabatini, PM/DTCC, phone:
202-663-2819; ClassNet email: sabtinipj@state.sgov.gov;
OpenNet email: sabatinipj@state.gov. The 2006 Blue Lantern
Guide Book is available on OpenNet at
http://fsi.state.gov/fsi/spas/default.asp?ID= 1588
Department thanks Post for its assistance in this matter.
RICE