Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) is a Japan
ese corporation established 1993-04-13 to procure, manage and lease transponders on communications satellite
s. Its largest stockholder, owning 49.9%, is NHK
, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation. In 1994 it was ranked by Space News as the world's 19th largest fixed satellite operator.
Based on the STAR Bus
platform. It was launched aboard an Ariane 5
rocket 2003-06-11. In-orbit delivery to B-SAT took place 2003-07-15.
-ECA expendable launch vehicle. It was manufactured by Lockheed Martin
Commercial Space Systems based on the A2100
A platform design, with a communications payload containing 12 Ku-band channels, eight of which operate at one time. Located in geostationary orbit
at 110 degrees East longitude, it replaced BSAT-1a and BSAT-1b.
aboard an Ariane 5-ECA (along with the Eutelsat
W3B satellite
) on 2010-10-28.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese corporation established 1993-04-13 to procure, manage and lease transponders on communications satellite
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
s. Its largest stockholder, owning 49.9%, is NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation. In 1994 it was ranked by Space News as the world's 19th largest fixed satellite operator.
BSAT-2a
BSAT-2a was manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation based on the STAR Bus platform. It was launched aboard an Ariane 5G rocket on March 8, 2001. BSAT-2a serves as an on orbit backup to BSAT-2c.BSAT-2c
BSAT-2c was manufactured by Orbital Sciences CorporationOrbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation is an American company which specializes in the manufacturing and launch of satellites. Its Launch Systems Group is heavily involved with missile defense launch systems...
Based on the STAR Bus
STAR Bus
STAR Bus is a satellite platform manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation with an apogee kick motor to place a communications satellite into geostationary orbit, a thruster to provide the satellite with orbital station-keeping for a 15 year mission, and solar arrays to provide the satellite...
platform. It was launched aboard an Ariane 5
Ariane 5
Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales...
rocket 2003-06-11. In-orbit delivery to B-SAT took place 2003-07-15.
BSAT-3a
Launched 2007-08-14 by an Ariane 5Ariane 5
Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales...
-ECA expendable launch vehicle. It was manufactured by Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
Commercial Space Systems based on the A2100
A2100
The A2100 is a communications satellite spacecraft made by Lockheed Martin Space Systems for telecommunications in geosynchronous orbit.The Lockheed Martin A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed for a variety of telecommunications needs including Ka band broadband and broadcast...
A platform design, with a communications payload containing 12 Ku-band channels, eight of which operate at one time. Located in geostationary orbit
Geostationary orbit
A geostationary orbit is a geosynchronous orbit directly above the Earth's equator , with a period equal to the Earth's rotational period and an orbital eccentricity of approximately zero. An object in a geostationary orbit appears motionless, at a fixed position in the sky, to ground observers...
at 110 degrees East longitude, it replaced BSAT-1a and BSAT-1b.
BSAT-3b
B-SAT awarded Lockheed Martin the contract to build its next geostationary telecommunications satellite, BSAT-3b, which was launched by ArianespaceArianespace
Arianespace SA is a French company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial space transportation company. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane 5 rocket launcher as part of the Ariane programme....
aboard an Ariane 5-ECA (along with the Eutelsat
Eutelsat
Eutelsat S.A. is a French-based satellite provider. Providing coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, it is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues.Eutelsat’s satellites...
W3B satellite
W Series
The W series satellites are six satellites operated by Eutelsat which provide various coverage and bandwidth options for consumer and business services in Europe, Asia and Africa...
) on 2010-10-28.