B-SAT Awards Lockheed Martin Contract For BSAT-3b Satellite

April 15th, 2008

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract by the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) of Japan to build its next geostationary telecommunications satellite.  Designated BSAT-3b, the satellite will provide high-definition (HD) direct broadcast services throughout Japan following its scheduled launch the third quarter of 2010 aboard an Arianespace launch vehicle.  

BSAT-3b will be the second consecutive satellite order B-SAT has awarded to Lockheed Martin.  Lockheed Martin successfully built and launched BSAT-3a in August 2007.  BSAT-3b will comprise 12 130 W Ku-band channels (8 operating at one time) and will be located at 110 degrees East longitude.  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.  BSAT-3b also marks the 13th Lockheed Martin satellite ordered in the 1- to 4-kW class satellite range. 

"The Lockheed Martin team is extremely gratified by the continuing support of B-SAT," said LMCSS Vice President and General Manager Marshall Byrd.  "This contract award for the design and construction of BSAT-3b reaffirms our solid relationship with our valued customer, B-SAT.  The A2100 team is dedicated and focused on producing a highly reliable spacecraft for B-SAT."

"We have been very pleased with the performance of the BSAT-3a spacecraft, and are pleased to once again procure another highly reliable spacecraft from LMCSS," said B-SAT President & CEO Kazuo Takenaka.  "We believe that the LMCSS team will provide us with the same enthusiasm and dedication for BSAT-3b that it showed us in the manufacture of BSAT-3a.  It is our strong expectation that BSAT-3b will be a perfect satellite at handover, and that it will fully perform its mission throughout its design life."