The BSAT-3a broadcasting satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin , is now operational for the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) following successful on- orbit deployment and checkout of all spacecraft systems.

The BSAT-3a communications payload contains 12 130-W Ku-band channels (eight operating at one time). With a design life of more than 13 years, BSAT-3a is based on the A2100A platform manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS), Newtown, Pa. BSAT-3a marks the 12th Lockheed Martin satellite contract awarded in the 1- to 4-kW class satellite range.

"I am very pleased that LMCSS has delivered the perfect satellite to B-SAT," said B-SAT President and CEO Kenji Nagai. "In the open-bidding phase, B-SAT decided to select LMCSS from among several offers, judging that LMCSS would be able to deliver a reliable satellite. I think that our decision has proven to be completely correct."

"The outstanding dedication and teamwork of B-SAT and Lockheed Martin the last two years contributed greatly to the success of this program," said LMCSS Vice-President and General Manager Marshall Byrd. "We're extremely pleased to deliver a high-quality, robust spacecraft on schedule to our valued B-SAT customer."

BSAT-3a is located at orbital location 110 degrees East longitude. The successful handover of BSAT-3a represents the 33rd delivery of an A2100 spacecraft for customers worldwide and all 33 currently are operational. Throughout its nearly 50-year history, LMCSS has launched 91 communications geostationary earth orbit satellites.

BSAT-3a is the sixth Direct Broadcasting Satellite in the 12GHz BSS band procured by B-SAT. Satellite broadcasting in Japan has a long history, beginning in 1984 and today penetrating in excess of 23 million households.

The A2100 spacecraft's design accommodates a large range of communication payloads as demonstrated by the 33 spacecraft successfully flown to date. This design modularity also enables the A2100 spacecraft to be configured for missions other than communication.

The A2100 design is currently being adapted for geostationary earth orbit (GEO)-based earth observing missions and is currently the baselined platform for Lockheed Martin's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Series-R (GOES-R) proposal. The A2100 also serves as the platform for critical government communications programs including Advanced Extremely High Frequency and Mobile User Objective System and is the foundation for Lockheed Martin's Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) offering.

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 four satellites, BSAT-1a and-1b for analogue services, BSAT-2a and -2c for digital services.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.

  Media Contacts
  Dee Valleras, Lockheed Martin, + 1 215 497 4185;
  e-mail, dee.valleras@lmco.com

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin