Aug. 6, 2011

The BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R broadcasting and telecommunications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin for the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SJC), was successfully launched today.  Initial contact with the satellite was confirmed at 7:53 p.m. EDT from Lockheed Martin's satellite tracking station in Uralla, Australia.  

BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R will be located at 110 degrees East longitude.  The satellite is expected to be handed over to B-SAT and SKY Perfect JSAT for service in August following in-orbit check out of all systems.  BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is the 38th commercial communications satellite based on the A2100 platform delivered to customers world-wide and the 99th commercial geosynchronous satellite in Lockheed Martin's history.  

BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R incorporates two independent Ku-band payloads with 12 direct broadcast channels and 12 fixed direct communication channels providing uplink and downlink coverage throughout Japan.  BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is required to meet a 15-year service life and was designed entirely with flight-proven components integrated into the highly reliable A2100 platform.  

"We are extremely proud of our partnership with two of the leading satellite operators in Asia, who've procured BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R jointly," said Joseph Rickers, Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems president.

"The BSAT-3c payload joins BSAT-3a and BSAT-3b to provide more than 110 million TV sets in Japan with BS Digital Broadcasting programs once it is handed over for operation.  And the JCSAT-110R payload will serve as a back-up for the 110 degrees East orbital position, continuing to provide highly reliable SKY PerfecTV!e2 service and strengthening the infrastructure."

BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is the third consecutive satellite Lockheed Martin has launched for B-SAT and the fifth consecutive satellite launched for SKY Perfect JSAT.   Lockheed Martin successfully delivered BSAT-3a and BSAT-3b in August 2007 and December 2010, respectively.  Lockheed Martin is currently building JCSAT-13 and previously built JCSAT-9 through JCSAT-12 and JCSAT-110 for SKY Perfect JSAT.