The Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) is a Japanese corporation established in April 1993 to procure, manage and lease transponders on communications satellites. Its largest stockholder, owning 49.9%, is NHK, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation.[1] In 1994, it was ranked by Space News as the world's 19th largest fixed satellite operator.[2]
Satellite fleet
The B-SAT fleet has an extensive history. This is an overview of the satellites.
Former satellites
These satellites were managed by Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation but are now decommissioned.[3]
BSAT-2a was manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation based on the Star Bus platform. It was launched aboard an Ariane 5G rocket on 8 March 2001. BSAT-2a serves as an on orbit backup to BSAT-2c. BSAT-2a was decommissioned in January 2013.[5]
BSAT-2b
BSAT-2b was a twin of BSAT-2a, also based on the Star Bus platform. Launched along Artemis aboard an Ariane 5G, it was left on an unusable orbit and that it couldn't compensate for. The electric propulsion Artemis, could use its higher efficiency ion drives, to reach operational orbit.[6][7]
BSAT-2c
BSAT-2c was manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation Based on the Star Bus platform. It was launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket on 11 June 2003. In-orbit delivery to B-SAT took place 15 July 2003.[8] BSAT-2c was decommissioned in August 2013.[5]
Current satellites
The current fleet of Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation as of August 2020 is composed of five spacecraft.[3]
B-SAT awarded Lockheed Martin the contract to build its next geostationary telecommunications satellite, BSAT-3b, which was launched by Arianespace aboard an Ariane 5 ECA (along with the Eutelsat W3B) on 28 October 2010.[11][12][13]
The first satellite of the fourth generation BSAT was built by SSL on its SSL 1300 platform. It has 24 Ku-bandtransponders and mass of 3,520 kilograms (7,760 lb). BSAT-4a launched on 29 September 2017 aboard an Ariane 5 ECA.[15]
BSAT-4b
The second satellite of the fourth generation BSAT was built by Maxar Technologies on its SSL 1300 platform. It has 24 Ku-bandtransponders and mass around 3,530 kilograms (7,780 lb). BSAT-4b was launched aboard an Ariane 5 ECA on 15 August 2020.[16]