On 27 April 2005, Lockheed Martin announced that it had been granted by B-SAT an authorisation to proceed to the construction of its first third generation broadcasting satellite, BSAT-3a.[6] On 18 May 2005, both companies announced the signature of the definitive contract for the satellite. It would be based on the A2100 platform, sport eight 130 watts Ku-bandtransponders (plus 4 spares), have a design life of 13 years and have a 1.8 kW power generation capability. It was expected launch in the second quarter of 2007 to be co-located at the 110.0° East orbital position.[7] On 15 June 2005, Arianespace announced that it had been awarded the launch contract for BSAT-3a.[8]
BSAT-3a was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin on the A2100satellite bus for B-SAT. It had a launch mass of 1,980 kilograms (4,370 lb), a dry mass of 927 kilograms (2,044 lb), and a 13-year design life.[3] As most satellites based on the A2100 platform, it uses a 460 newtons (100 lbf) LEROS-1CLAE for orbit raising.[4]
It measured 3.8 by 1.9 by 1.9 metres (12.5 ft × 6.2 ft × 6.2 ft) when stowed for launch. Its dual wing solar panels can generate 2.8 kW of power at the end of its design life, and span 14.65 metres (48.1 ft) when fully deployed.[3]
On 19 June 2007, Lockheed announced that it was poised to deliver BSAT-3a on the third quarter of 2007, with another Japanese spacecraft, JCSAT-11. BSAT-3a was the sixth broadcasting satellite procured by B-SAT.[9]
On 10 August 2007, Lockheed announced that BSAT-3a was mated to the launcher and ready for its ride to orbit.[10] It launched at 23:44 UTC, on 14 August 2007 aboard an Ariane 5 ECA from Centre Spatial GuyanaisELA-3 launch pad.[1] It rode on the lower berth under the SYLDA with Spaceway-3.[11] The first signals from the satellite were received one hour later, at 00:46 UTC on 15 August 2007. It also marked the 33rd launch of the A2100 platform.[12]
It was entered into service on 1 October 2007 after successfully passing the on-orbit deployment and checkout phase.[2][13]
Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses).
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