[Satellite Today – 4-15-08] The Broadcasting Satellite Systems Corp. (B-Sat) has awarded Lockheed Martin the contract to build BSAT-3b, Lockheed Martin announced April 15.
    BSAT-3b, the second consecutive satellite built by Lockheed Martin for B-Sat, will provide high-definition (HD) direct broadcast services throughout Japan. BSAT-3b will comprise 12 130 W Ku-band channels (8 operating at one time) and will be located at 110 degrees East longitude.
    "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 [Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems] (LMCSS)," said B-SAT President and CEO Kazuo Takenaka in a statement. "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."
    The satellite is scheduled to be launched in the second quarter of 2010 aboard an Arianespace launch vehicle.