An evaluation model based on fuzzy theory is proposed in order to study the effectiveness evaluation of telecommunication satellites. Using ideas from fuzzy theory, a nonlinear evaluation function is established based on the analysis about properties of the assessment objects, making our model be applicable to a class of assessment objects which are evaluated by a system of index determined by a constellation of factors. These factors may be mutually dependent on each other. However, any two indices are independent. Given a number of such objects, the model is also able to classify them by using the method of fuzzy cluster analysis. Finally, the effectiveness evaluation of telecommunication satellites is considered according to the measurement data. The scores of the telecommunication satellites, Dongfanghong Ⅲ, the basic and enhanced type of Dongfanghong Ⅳ and Dongfanghong Ⅴ are 0.230-0.243, 0.470-0.536, 0.614-0.791 and 0.855-0.945 respectively, which shows that the effectiveness of Dongfanghong telecommunication satellites are growing. However, the integrated efficiency of Dongfanghong Ⅴ is not much better than that of the enhanced type of Dongfanghong Ⅳ.