WASHINGTON — Space Systems/Loral, Palo Alto, Calif., will design and build a telecommunications satellite to be launched aboard a Chinese-built Long March rocket, a Space Systems/Loral spokesman said Jan. 8.

Space Systems/Loral will build the Apstar-5 for APT Satellite Company Ltd., Hong Kong, then export the spacecraft for launch to China, according to Mac Jeffery, Space Systems/Loral spokesman.

The number of U.S.-built satellites exported for launch aboard Chinese-built rockets marketed by China Great Wall Industry Corp., Beijing, has dropped to zero since allegations surfaced in 1998 that U.S. satellite manufacturers were giving technical assistance to China’s missile industry.

"We will proceed as usual to file for the export licenses," Jeffery said. It is standard practice for the manufacturer to apply for the necessary licenses, Jeffery added.

Apstar-5 will replace the aging Apastar-1 satellite at its geostationary orbital position of 138 degrees east longitude. It will provide Ku-band voice, video and data services to China, Hawaii, and East Asia, and C-band services to other parts of the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia and Hawaii, according to Space Systems/Loral. Apstar 5 will broadcast in both the C-band and Ku-band portions of the radio spectrum.

The terms of the contract were not disclosed, but the package to build, insure and launch the satellite will be about $240 million, Jeffery said.