BSAT-3b Satellite Successfully Launched for the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation of Japan

October 28 2010

The BSAT-3b broadcasting satellite,  was successfully launched today from Kourou, French Guiana. Lift-off occurred at 5:51 p.m. EDT aboard an Ariane 5-ECA launch vehicle provided by Arianespace of Evry, France. Initial contact with the satellite was confirmed at 6:52 p.m. EDT from Lockheed Martin's satellite tracking station in Uralla, Australia.

BSAT-3b features 12 130 W Ku-band channels, eight operating simultaneously, and will be located at 110 degrees East longitude following in-orbit check out of all systems. BSAT-3b is expected to be handed over to B-SAT for operation by the end of 2010.

With a design life of 15 years, BSAT-3b is based on the A2100A platform manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS), Newtown, Pa. The satellite is comprised entirely of equipment based on proven A2100 designs and flight heritage, enhancing reliability on orbit. Lockheed Martin successfully built and launched BSAT-3a for B-SAT in August 2007 and is currently constructing BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R, which is scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2011.

“We are extremely proud of our partnership with B-SAT,” said LMCSS president Joseph Rickers. “The B-SAT and Lockheed Martin team put forth their best effort to achieve this milestone. We also thank Arianespace once again for a great launch. We look forward to adding a second A2100 satellite to B-SAT’s fleet and we are confident that this high-performance satellite will be a tremendous asset when it becomes operational later this year,” Rickers added.