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BSAT Selects Orbital STARbus to Replace Lost BSat 2B

More Information:

Japan’s Broadcasting Satellite Systems Corporation (BSAT) has selected Orbital Sciences to build BSat 2C, the replacement satellite for the recently stranded BSat 2B. This replacement satellite is scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2003. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. No details were available regarding selection of a launch provider.

The 1298 kg (2861 lbm) BSat 2B was stranded in orbit in July 2001 when its Ariane 5 rocket failed to achieve GTO orbit. While the satellite was undamaged, it carried insufficient propellant to achieve geosynchronous orbit by itself. The satellite had been planned to be deployed at 110°E for broadcast to Japan with 4 Ku band transponders. The Ariane 5 is currently scheduled to return to service in January 2002.

The BSAT-2c satellite design is based on Orbital's STAR bus. The previous two satellites, BSat 2A and 2B that Orbital built were also based on the STAR platform.

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October 1, 2001