BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R Satellite Launched Successfully For Japanese

Lockheed Martin-Built BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R broadcasting and telecommunications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SJC), was successfully launched today from Kourou, French Guiana. Lift-off occurred at 6:52 p.m. EDT aboard an Ariane 5-ECA launch vehicle provided by Arianespace of Evry, France. 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.

The Lockheed Martin A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed to meet a wide variety of telecommunications needs including Ka-band broadband and broadcast services, fixed satellite services in C-band and Ku-band, high-power direct broadcast services using the Ku-band frequency spectrum and mobile satellite services using UHF, L-band, and S-band payloads. The A2100's modular design features simplified construction, increased on-orbit reliability and reduced weight and cost. The A2100 design accommodates a large range of communication payloads and serves as the platform for critical government communications programs, including the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency system and the U.S. Navy’s Mobile User Objective System.

The A2100 spacecraft can also be configured for missions other than communications. It has been adapted for NASA and NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Series-R earth observing mission and serves as the platform for the U.S. Air Force’s Global Positioning System III program.

About B-SAT

B-SAT is a unique operator of broadcasting satellites in 12GHz BSS band in Japan. The company was established in April 1993 and is located in Tokyo, Japan. Since then, B-SAT has worked toward providing stable satellite operations and continuity of broadcast services. B-SAT currently owns and manages five satellites: BSAT-3a/3b and BSAT-2a/2c, and BSAT-1b as a backup satellite, which are collocated at 110 degrees east to meet increasing demand for BS Digital Broadcasting Services all over Japan. The number of BS Digital Broadcasting Receivers is now over 110 million in Japan.

About SKY Perfect JSAT

SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation is a leader in the converging fields of broadcasting and communications. It is Asia’s largest satellite operator with a fleet of 14 satellites, and Japan’s only provider of both multi-channel pay TV broadcasting and satellite communications services. With 3.7 million subscribers, SKY Perfect JSAT delivers a broad range of entertainment through its SKY PerfecTV!, SKY PerfecTV! e2 and SKY PerfecTV! HIKARI platforms, the most extensive in Japan. In addition, through satellite communications service coverage that extends across Japan and the rest of Asia, Oceania, Hawaii and North America, the Company supports safety, security and convenience for society.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.


Source: Lockheed Martin Corporation - KOUROU, French Guiana, , August 6th, 2011 -- www.lockheedmartin.com

Photo: An Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket launched the Astra 1N and BSat 3c/JCSat-110R communications satellites Aug. 6 from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. [Arianespace]


(10.08.2011)