Lockheed Martin-Built Communications Satellite Ready for Launch for Japanese Customers

NEWTOWN, Pa., June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R broadcasting and telecommunications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) for the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, is ready for liftoff on July 1 aboard an Ariane 5-ECA launch vehicle provided by Arianespace. The launch window opens at 5:43 p.m. ET and closes at 7:06 p.m. ET.

BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R's two independent Ku-band payloads incorporate 12 direct broadcast channels and 12 fixed direct communication channels with uplink and downlink coverage over Japan. The spacecraft will be located at 110 degrees East longitude after delivery in orbit. BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is required to meet a 15-year service life and was designed entirely with flight-proven components integrated into the highly reliable A2100 platform manufactured by Lockheed Martin.  BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is the third consecutive satellite order B-SAT has awarded to Lockheed Martin and the fifth consecutive satellite order SKY Perfect JSAT has awarded to Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed Martin successfully delivered BSAT-3a and BSAT-3b for service in August 2007 and December 2010, respectively.  Lockheed Martin is currently building JCSAT-13 and previously built JCSAT-9 through JCSAT-12 for SKY Perfect JSAT.  BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R will be the 38th commercial communications satellite based on the A2100 platform delivered to customers world-wide.

"We were extremely pleased to collaborate with two valued customers on this program," said Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems president Joseph Rickers.  "Once BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R has been successfully launched and handed over for service, we are confident that both B-SAT and SKY Perfect JSAT will benefit tremendously from the enhanced capabilities that BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R will bring to their respective fleets."

The Lockheed Martin A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed to meet a wide variety of telecommunications needs including Ka-band broadband and broadcast services, fixed satellite services in C-band and Ku-band, high-power direct broadcast services using the Ku-band frequency spectrum and mobile satellite services using UHF, L-band, and S-band payloads. The A2100's modular design features simplified construction, increased on-orbit reliability and reduced weight and cost. The A2100 design accommodates a large range of communication payloads and serves as the platform for critical government communications programs, including the Advanced Extremely High Frequency and Mobile User Objective System satellites.

The A2100 spacecraft can also be configured for missions other than communication. It has been adapted for Lockheed Martin's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Series-R earth observing mission and serves as the spacecraft platform for Lockheed Martin's GPS III program.

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 five satellites: BSAT-3a/3b and BSAT-2a/2c, and BSAT-1b as a backup satellite, which are collocated at 110 degrees east to meet increasing demand for BS Digital Broadcasting Services all over Japan.  The number of BS Digital Broadcasting Receivers is now over 110 million in Japan.

About SKY Perfect JSAT

SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation is a leader in the converging fields of broadcasting and communications. It is Asia's largest satellite operator with a fleet of 14 satellites, and Japan's only provider of both multi-channel pay TV broadcasting and satellite communications services. With 3.7 million subscribers, SKY Perfect JSAT delivers a broad range of entertainment through its SKY PerfecTV!, SKY PerfecTV! e2 and SKY PerfecTV! HIKARI platforms, the most extensive in Japan. In addition, through satellite communications service coverage that extends across Japan and the rest of Asia, Oceania, Hawaii and North America, the Company supports safety, security and convenience for society.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin