Orbital Sciences is poised to win two GEOsat contracts with Japan’s Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (BSAT) for the construction and launch of two geo-stationary direct-to-home TV broadcast satellites for the BSAT-2 program.
Orbital’s BSAT-2 satellite design is based on the company’s NovaStar lightweight geosynchronous spacecraft platform, which provides very high reliability as well as advanced performance and capacity in a relatively low-cost system.
BSAT, an affiliate of Japan’s NHK broadcast network, currently operates the BSAT-1a and BSAT-1b satellites, which provide direct broadcast analog TV to over 12 million customers throughout Japan. BSAT-2a and -2b, the two new satellites to be built and delivered by Orbital, will more than double the channel capacity of BSAT’s network, providing the first satellite-based digital TV service to Japanese subscribers.
The BSAT-2 satellites will be launched in the fall of 2000 and the spring of 2001, and will operate at Ku- band frequencies at BSAT’s 110 degree East longitude orbital slot. BSAT selected Orbital’s satellite design for the BSAT-2 program based on its low technical risk and attractive performance and economic features.
The two three-axis stabilized BSAT-2 satellites will each generate over 2 kW of electrical power and weigh about 550 Kg (without propellants). The high-power Ku-band communications payload will be built and supplied to Orbital by Loral Space and Communications, and the satellites will be launched on Ariane rockets by Arianespace, S.A., under subcontract to Orbital.
Mr. Robert R. Lovell, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Orbital’s Space Systems Group, said, “BSAT’s selection represents a strategic contract win for our NovaStar small spacecraft system, which is an important part of our company’s future growth outlook. We very much appreciate BSAT’s confidence in our team, and we are totally committed to
building the highest quality satellites for their program.”
