BSAT-2c

BSAT-2c, was a geostationary communications satellite operated by B-SAT and was designed and manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation on the STAR-1 platform. It was stationed on the 110° East orbital slot along its companion BSAT-2a from where they provided redundant high definition direct television broadcasting across Japan.

The original companion for BSAT-2a was BSAT-2b, but a launch failure during its launch during July 2001, meant that it was not possible to commission it into service. Thus, during October of the same year BSAT-2c was ordered and launched in June 2003. It was retired in August 2013.

Satellite description
BSAT-2c was designed and manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation on the STAR-1 satellite bus for B-SAT. It had a launch mass of 1275 kg, a dry mass of 535 kg, and a 10-year design life. As all four STAR-1 satellites, it had a solid rocket Star 30CBP apogee kick motor for orbit raising, plus 200 kg of propellant for its liquid propellant station keeping thrusters.

It measured 3.7 x when stowed for launch. Its dual wing solar panels could generate 2.6 kW of power at the beginning of its design life, and it span was 11.5 m when fully deployed.

It had a single Ku band payload with four active transponders plus four spares with a TWTA output power of 130 Watts.

History
In March 1999, B-SAT ordered from Orbital Sciences Corporation two satellites based on the STAR-1 platform: BSAT-2a and BSAT-2b. This was the second order of the bus and the first since Orbital had acquired CTA Space Systems, the original developer. During 2001, BSAT-2a was successfully launched, but BSAT-2b was orbited into an incorrect orbit and was considered lost. In October of the same year, B-SAT contracted Orbital for a near copy replacement of the lost spacecraft, called BSAT-2c.

BSAT-2c was launched aboard an Ariane 5G at 22:38 UTC, June 11, 2003, from Guiana Space Center ELA-3. It rode on the lower berth below Optus C1. On July 15, BSAT-2c was commissioned into service starting the broadcast of digital signals.

B-SAT ended the broadcast of analog television in July 2011. During August 2013, BSAT-2c was sent to a graveyard orbit and decommissioned.