BSAT-4a

BSAT-4a is a geostationary communications satellite ordered by Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (BSAT) and designed and manufactured by SSL on the SSL 1300 platform, to be stationed on the 110.0° East orbital slot for direct television broadcasting of 4K and 8K Ultra HD resolutions.^[2][3][4] It was launched on 29 September 2017.^[5]

BSAT-4a

Mission type	Communication
Operator	B-SAT
COSPAR ID	2017-059B
SATCAT no.	42951
Website	(Japanese)
Mission duration	15 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	BSAT-4a
Spacecraft type	BSAT
Bus	SSL 1300
Manufacturer	Space Systems/Loral
Launch mass	3500 kg
Start of mission
Launch date	29 September 2017, 21:56 UTC[1]
Rocket	Ariane 5 ECA
Launch site	Guiana Space Center ELA-3
Contractor	Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	110.0° East (Planned)
Transponders
Band	24 Ku-band
Coverage area	Japan
B-SAT ← BSAT-3c BSAT-4b →

Satellite description

BSAT-4a was designed and manufactured by SSL on the SSL 1300 satellite bus for BSAT. It has an estimated launch mass of 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb) with a 15-year design life.^[2][6][4]

It has a single K_u-band payload with 24 transponders, and covers Japan with 4K and 8K Ultra HD television satellite service.^[2][3]

History

On 18 June 2015, BSAT ordered the first of its fourth generation satellites from SSL, BSAT-4a. It was expected to be weight around 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb), have 24 K_u-band transponders with a 15-year design life. It was launched on 29 September 2017.^[1] It was planned that 4K and 8K signals would be broadcast by summer 2020.^[3]

In September 2015, BSAT contracted Arianespace for an Ariane 5 ECA launch service,^[4][2]and received a preliminary license for broadcasting 4K and 8K Ultra HD.^[7]